House Ethics Report Places Matt Gaetz on "Naughty" List

The House released its ethics report, and it's not great.

Gaetz may have plenty of defenses for these charges, but they're not all blow-offs:

In sum, the Committee found substantial evidence of the following:

* From at least 2017 to 2020, Representative Gaetz regularly paid women for engaging in sexual activity with him.

* In 2017, Representative Gaetz engaged in sexual activity with a 17-year-old girl.

* During the period 2017 to 2019, Representative Gaetz used or possessed illegal drugs, including cocaine and ecstasy, on multiple occasions.

* Representative Gaetz accepted gifts, including transportation and lodging in connection with a 2018 trip to the Bahamas, in excess of permissible amounts.

* In 2018, Representative Gaetz arranged for his Chief of Staff to assist a woman with whom he engaged in sexual activity in obtaining a passport, falsely indicating to the U.S. Department of State that she was a constituent.

* Representative Gaetz knowingly and willfully sought to impede and obstruct the Committee's investigation of his conduct.

* Representative Gaetz has acted in a manner that reflects discreditably upon the House.

Now do all 434 other members. As long as we're getting judgy.

It shouldn't be forgotten that no prosecutor thought these claims were strong enough to bring charges. And it can't be forgotten that other Congressmen hate Gaetz -- including, most of all, establishment Republicans -- and would generally say that almost any charge against him has "substantial evidence" behind it.

Not a great idea for him to put his name forward for AG, though. There's a myth about a father and son making wings out of feathers and wax that comes to mind.

posted by Ace at 06:00 PM

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