{"id":2383032,"date":"2024-12-23T11:49:01","date_gmt":"2024-12-23T16:49:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/gaetz-tried-to-sue-house-ethics-committee-to-kill-panel-releasing-damning-report-washington-examiner\/"},"modified":"2024-12-23T11:52:35","modified_gmt":"2024-12-23T16:52:35","slug":"gaetz-tried-to-sue-house-ethics-committee-to-kill-panel-releasing-damning-report-washington-examiner","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/gaetz-tried-to-sue-house-ethics-committee-to-kill-panel-releasing-damning-report-washington-examiner\/","title":{"rendered":"Gaetz tried to sue House Ethics Committee to kill panel releasing damning report &#8211; Washington Examiner"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"float:left\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">32<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fgaetz-tried-to-sue-house-ethics-committee-to-kill-panel-releasing-damning-report-washington-examiner%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2383032&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>Former Congressman Matt Gaetz attempted to sue \u2062the House Ethics Committee in an \u2064effort to\u2064 block the release of a\u2062 report that contained allegations\u200b against him, which had \u200cbeen leaked to the media. According to reports,\u2062 the Committee&#8217;s final draft indicated that it found evidence of Gaetz paying women for\u200b sex or \u200cdrugs on \u200cnumerous occasions, including one instance\u2064 involving a 17-year-old\u200b girl. Gaetz filed his lawsuit on the same day the report was set\u200b to \u2064be released, arguing that \u200cthe Committee was overstepping its jurisdiction \u200cby\u2063 issuing a report about \u200da private \u2063citizen. He \u2064claimed that\u200c the release would irreparably damage\u2064 his reputation and that the Committee failed \u200dto follow proper legal procedures. Despite his legal efforts, the \u200dreport was\u200c made public just hours after he\u200c filed his suit.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">Gaetz tried to sue House Ethics Committee to kill panel releasing damning report<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_1918800\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p>Former Rep. <a href=\"http:\/\/washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/matt-gaetz\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"Matt Gaetz\">Matt Gaetz<\/a> tried to sue the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/section\/news\/house\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">House<\/a> Ethics Committee to prevent the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/house\/3263939\/house-panel-votes-release-gaetz-report-surprise-reversal\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"Matt Gaetz\">release<\/a> of its report on him after it had been leaked to several news outlets.<\/p>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>On Monday, CNN reported that a&nbsp;final draft of the House Ethics Committee&rsquo;s report into allegations of sexual misconduct alleged it had found evidence of Gaetz paying women for drugs or sex on at least 20 occasions while a member of Congress, including one woman who was 17 years old. Gaetz <a href=\"https:\/\/storage.courtlistener.com\/recap\/gov.uscourts.dcd.275994\/gov.uscourts.dcd.275994.1.0.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"sued\">sued<\/a> the committee the same day, seeking to block the report&rsquo;s release.<\/p>\n<p>The effort was unsuccessful, as the report was released to the public hours later.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;This action challenges the Committee&rsquo;s unconstitutional and ultra vires attempt to exercise jurisdiction over a private citizen through the threatened release of an investigative report containing potentially defamatory allegations,&rdquo; Gaetz&rsquo;s lawyers wrote.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;The Committee&rsquo;s apparent intention to release its report after explicitly acknowledging it lacks jurisdiction over former members, its failure to follow constitutional notions of due process, and failure to adhere to its own <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/heres-how-the-pro-act-forces-workers-into-joining-unions-paying-dues\/\" title=\"Here\u2019s How The PRO Act Forces Workers Into Joining Unions, Paying Dues\">procedural rules<\/a> and precedent represents an unprecedented overreach that <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/aclu-calls-on-schumer-not-to-pass-bill-to-fight-online-child-exploitation-content\/\" title=\"ACLU urges Schumer to reject bill targeting online child exploitation content.\">threatens fundamental constitutional rights<\/a> and established procedural protections,&rdquo; they added.<\/p>\n<p>Gaetz&rsquo;s attorneys contended that the release of the report would &ldquo;significantly damage Plaintiff&rsquo;s standing and reputation in the community. Once released, the damage to Plaintiff&rsquo;s reputation and professional standing would be immediate, severe, and irreversible.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>The lawsuit was apparently filed quickly, as the filing <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/kyledcheney\/status\/1871202578907938830\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"contained\">contained<\/a> several spelling and technical errors. The technical errors may have proven fatal, allowing the panel to proceed with releasing the report.<\/p>\n<p>In a sudden reversal, the House Ethics Committee voted earlier this month to release its report on Gaetz after previously voting not to. The release of the report was a surprise, as the <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\">committee typically doesn&#038;rsquo<\/a>;t release reports on private citizens.<\/p>\n<p>The panel alleged several wrongdoings by Gaetz, with the most egregious being paying for sex with a 17-year-old.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;The Committee determined there is substantial evidence that Representative Gaetz violated House Rules and other standards of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/gaetz-report-has-substantial-evidence-he-paid-for-sex-and-drugs-washington-examiner\/\" title=\"Gaetz report has &#039;substantial evidence&#039; he paid for sex and drugs- Washington Examiner\">conduct prohibiting prostitution<\/a>, statutory rape, illicit drug use, impermissible gifts, special favors or privileges, and obstruction of Congress,&rdquo; panel investigators wrote.<\/p>\n<p>Gaetz has vehemently denied the charges, citing the Biden administration&rsquo;s Department of Justice investigation that didn&rsquo;t pursue charges after failing to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/six-capitol-police-officers-face-disciplinary-action-over-january-6-riot\/\" title=\"Six Capitol Police Officers Face Disciplinary Action Over January 6 Riot\">find sufficient evidence<\/a>. He<a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/mattgaetz\/status\/1871215973610762253\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\"> posted on X<\/a> to poke holes in the committee&rsquo;s findings.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Giving funds to someone you are dating &mdash; that they didn&rsquo;t ask for &mdash; and that isn&rsquo;t &lsquo;charged&rsquo; for sex is now prostitution?!?&rdquo; he wrote. &ldquo;There is a reason they did this to me in a Christmas Eve-Eve report and not in a courtroom of any kind where I could present evidence and challenge witnesses. This is testimony from one of the alleged &lsquo;prostitutes&rsquo; that you won&rsquo;t see in the report!&rdquo;<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Giving funds to someone you are dating &ndash; that they didn&rsquo;t ask for &ndash; and that isn&rsquo;t &ldquo;charged&rdquo; for sex is now prostitution?!?<\/p>\n<p>There is a reason they did this to me in a Christmas Eve-Eve report and not in a courtroom of any kind where I could present evidence and challenge&hellip; <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/HzWODpBBB9\">pic.twitter.com\/HzWODpBBB9<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Matt Gaetz (@mattgaetz) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/mattgaetz\/status\/1871207714665197718?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">December 23, 2024<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/cdn-cgi\/scripts\/5c5dd728\/cloudflare-static\/email-decode.min.js\"><\/script><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script> <\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\"><strong><\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Gaetz has said previously that he sent funds to some women he dated or was interested in but never had sexual contact with anyone under the age of 18.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Any claim that I have would be destroyed in court &mdash; which is why no such claim was ever made in court,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;My 30s were an era of working very hard &mdash; and playing hard too. It&rsquo;s embarrassing, though not criminal, that I probably partied, womanized, drank, and smoked more than I should have earlier in life. I live a different life now.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p> <script>!function(){var g=window;g.googletag=g.googletag||{},g.googletag.cmd=g.googletag.cmd||[],g.googletag.cmd.push(function(){g.googletag.pubads().setTargeting(\"has-featured-video\",\"true\")})}();<\/script><script>var _bp=_bp||[];_bp.push({\"div\":\"Brid_1918800\",\"obj\":{\"id\":\"27789\",\"width\":\"1280\",\"height\":\"720\",\"stickyDirection\":\"below\",\"video\":\"1918800\"}});<\/script><script defer src=\"https:\/\/services.brid.tv\/player\/build\/brid.min.js\"><\/script><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Gaetz attempted to sue the House Ethics Committee to stop a damaging report about him from being released<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2653,"featured_media":2383033,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/matt-gaetz-senate-tease.webp","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[47299,3624,45101,4585,32603],"class_list":["post-2383032","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-damning-report","tag-gaetz","tag-house-ethics-committee","tag-lawsuit","tag-political-news"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/matt-gaetz-senate-tease.webp","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2383032","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2653"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2383032"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2383032\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2383036,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2383032\/revisions\/2383036"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2383033"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2383032"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2383032"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2383032"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}