House has ‘numerous’ photos from women who say they were paid a total of more than $10,000 by Gaetz for sex, lawyer says

Two women who claim former Representative Matt Gaetz paid them for sex have provided the House Ethics Committee with multiple pieces of evidence, including “numerous” photos, their attorney revealed on Tuesday. The photos reportedly include images from a 2019 trip to New York, where the women allege they were paid by Gaetz for sexual encounters. The women say they also accompanied the Florida Republican to a Fox News studio where he filmed a TV appearance during that trip. Gaetz allegedly covered the women’s travel expenses as well, according to their lawyer, Joel Leppard.

Leppard shared these details in an interview with CNN’s Erin Burnett on “OutFront,” where he explained that the women had submitted selfies and photos they claimed Gaetz had sent them. Additionally, the women testified they had sent Gaetz explicit photos, sometimes at his request. These disclosures were part of the House Ethics Committee’s investigation into Gaetz, which is examining allegations of sexual misconduct and illicit drug use.

Matt Gaetz, who was recently chosen by President-elect Donald Trump to serve as attorney general, resigned from Congress last week, effectively halting the ethics investigation. The committee is now debating whether to release a report based on its findings, which also overlapped with a federal investigation by the Department of Justice. The DOJ, after a thorough review, declined to pursue charges against Gaetz. Gaetz has consistently denied any wrongdoing and has pointed to the DOJ’s decision as evidence of his innocence. Among the allegations against him is the claim that he had sex with a then-underage woman, a claim that was central to both the House ethics investigation and the criminal probe.

Leppard explained that the women’s testimony included details about their interactions with Gaetz during the New York trip. One of the women testified that she felt pressured to “please” Gaetz before attending an electronic music show with him. This claim, according to Leppard, was part of the broader testimony that the House panel gathered from multiple witnesses.

The House Ethics Committee’s investigation, which began before Gaetz’s resignation, had focused on allegations of sexual misconduct, financial improprieties, and drug use. According to Leppard, the committee obtained extensive records, including electronic payment details showing that Gaetz paid one of the women more than $6,000 and the other more than $4,000. The lawyer emphasized that this was just a small portion of the evidence the committee had gathered, suggesting that many more documents and witnesses could shed light on the situation.

Following Gaetz’s resignation, the House committee postponed its plans to meet about releasing its findings. The panel’s next scheduled meeting is Wednesday, but Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, who has expressed a hands-off approach to the Ethics Committee’s work, has opposed the idea of releasing the report to the public.

Democrats and some Republicans have called for the public release of the committee’s report, especially as Gaetz prepares to be formally considered for the attorney general role. Leppard hinted that there are still significant witnesses yet to testify, which could further influence the committee’s final conclusions. He implied that the available evidence, including thousands of documents obtained by the committee, points to overwhelming support for the women’s allegations.

While federal prosecutors chose not to pursue charges against Gaetz, the revelations from the House Ethics investigation add another layer to the scrutiny surrounding the former congressman. With Gaetz’s nomination for attorney general looming, the release of the Ethics Committee’s report could become a crucial point of contention in the confirmation process.

Gaetz’s legal team has maintained his innocence throughout the controversy. A spokesperson for Gaetz pointed out that the DOJ had cleared him, underscoring their stance that the allegations are unfounded. However, as the House Ethics Committee’s investigation continues, the pressure is mounting for the committee to release its findings and potentially shape the narrative surrounding Gaetz’s future political prospects.