Gaetz faces allegations of “illicit drug use”published at 14:41 Greenwich Mean Time
Former Florida congressman Matt Gaetz also faces the allegation that he used and purchased illegal drugs – including from his Capitol Hill office, according to the final draft of 37-page report which CBS News, the BBC’s news US partner, has obtained.
CBS News says the draft report states: “The Committee determined there is substantial evidence that Representative Gaetz violated House Rules and other standards of conduct prohibiting prostitution, statutory rape, illicit drug use, impermissible gifts, special favors or privileges, and obstruction of Congress.”
The document also reportedly details allegations of sex and drug-fuelled parties and travel, including a 2018 trip to the Bahamas.
“From 2017 to 2020, Representative Gaetz made tens of thousands of dollars in payments to women that the Committee determined were likely in connection with sexual activity and/or drug use,” the report notes, per CBS News.
Gaetz has repeatedly denied all wrongdoing and claims he is a victim of a smear campaign.