Tonight, a bombshell report on Capitol Hill.
The House Ethics Committee revealing the results of their investigation
into former Congressman Matt Gaetz, determining there is substantial evidence
that Gates violated House rules related to prostitution, statutory rape,
illicit drug use, impermissible gifts, special favors or privileges, and
obstruction of Congress.
Democrat Glen Ivy, a member of the committee, voted to
release the report.
We're releasing it all on.
The public can draw its own conclusions.
Specifically, the committee pointed to a 2017 encounter Gates had
with a woman who testified she had just finished her
junior year in high school and was only 17 when
she and Gates had sex twice at a party.
Gates has repeatedly denied having sex with anyone underage, and
the woman said she did not tell Gates that she
was 17.
The committee also detailed $90,000 in payments to 12 different
women that investigators concluded was used to pay for sex
and illicit drugs.
While women testified the encounters were consensual, one witness testified
That quote.
When I look back on certain moments, I feel violated.
Gates has admitted to womanizing and drinking and smoking during
his younger years, but says his conduct was embarrassing but
not criminal.
But despite Gates's defense, the committee believes there could be
enough evidence that Gates violated state laws.
I would think that they would give strong consideration to
investigating the allegations.
He also points to a lengthy investigation by the Department
of Justice that was closed without prosecutors bringing charges.
Despite these accusations, Gates's political future remains open, and he's
not back down from the idea of running for higher
office.
Maybe I'll just run for Marco Rubio's vacant seat in
the United States Senate.
Gates was no longer a member of Congress and was
out of the running for attorney general.
The committee's chairman argued it would set a bad precedent
to release the report.
But a bipartisan majority of committee members believe the report's
release was in the public's interest, and Ryan Gates attempted
to delay the report's release this morning.
Yes, Lester.
Gates filed a last minute motion for a temporary restraining
order against the committee to prevent the report from coming
out.
But by the time the judge had a chance to
review the request, the report had already been released.
Lester.