The House Ethics Committee report into former Rep. Matt Gaetz of Florida has been released, with the panel having “determined there is substantial evidence” that the former congressman and attorney general nominee violated a statutory rape law.
“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 report states.
Before its release, Gaetz sued the committee to block the release of the report that found that he paid thousands of dollars to more than a dozen women — including a 17-year-old girl — for sex.
In a federal lawsuit filed in Washington, D.C., the Republican accused the committee of making an “unconstitutional” attempt to “exercise jurisdiction over a private citizen” by releasing a report “containing potentially defamatory allegations.”
He asked for a judge to issue an emergency order to block the report’s release, but drafts had already been published in several news outlets Monday morning.
Publishing the report would mark an “unprecedented overreach that threatens fundamental constitutional rights and established procedural protections,” attorneys for the former congressman wrote.
Joe Biden commutes sentences of 37 out of 40 federal death row inmates before Trump takes office
Joe Biden announced on Monday that he is commuting the sentences of 37 of the 40 people on federal death row, converting their punishments to life imprisonment just weeks before President-elect Donald Trump, an outspoken proponent of expanding capital punishment, takes office.
The move spares the lives of people convicted in killings, including the slayings of police and military officers, people on federal land and those involved in deadly bank robberies or drug deals, as well as the killings of guards or prisoners in federal facilities.
It means just three federal inmates are still facing execution. They are Dylann Roof, who carried out the 2015 racist slayings of nine Black members of Mother Emanuel AME Church in Charleston, South Carolina; 2013 Boston Marathon bomber Dzhokhar Tsarnaev; and Robert Bowers, who fatally shot 11 congregants at Pittsburgh’s Tree of life Synagogue in 2018, the deadliest antisemitic attack in U.S history.
Will Weissert, Darlene Superville23 December 2024 16:00
Ethics Committee issues statement on release of ethics report
The Committee previously noted that there has been a significant and unusual amount of reporting on its activities during its review of the matter of Representative Gaetz, and much of that reporting has been inaccurate. The Committee’s investigations are conducted confidentially, but the Committee’s confidentiality rules do not prohibit witnesses from disclosing information about the Committee’s requests or conversations with Committee investigators. To the extent that any of the public reporting on this matter came from unauthorized disclosures of confidential Committee information, we strongly condemn such unauthorized disclosures, which are damaging and harmful to the Committee’s work.
House Ethics Committee
Gustaf Kilander23 December 2024 15:55
Read the full House Ethics Committee report into Matt Gaetz
Gustaf Kilander23 December 2024 15:45
Congress is looking to ban Chinese drones that are widely used in US. What to know about the debate
The economic and technological rivalry between the United States and China has come to the drone market, where Chinese-made flying devices are a dominant player.
Lawmakers in Washington are seeking to ban new sales of drones from two dominant Chinese manufacturers, arguing they could be used to spy on Americans and that the low-cost models are hurting the U.S. drone industry.
A defense bill that passed Congress last week would bar new Chinese drones from DJI Technology and Autel Robotics should a review find them to pose an “unacceptable” risk to U.S. national security.
But American users, from police officers to farmers, mappers and filmmakers, have come to rely on Chinese-made drones, especially those by DJI.
Here are things to know about the debate.
Didi Tang23 December 2024 15:30
Gaetz takes to X to defend himself amid sexual misconduct allegations
Gustaf Kilander23 December 2024 15:28
‘There is a reason they did this to me in a Christmas Eve-Eve report and not in a courtroom,’ Gaetz says
Matt Gaetz wrote in a post on X: “Giving funds to someone you are dating – that they didn’t ask for – and that isn’t ‘charged’ for sex is now prostitution?!?”
He added: “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 ‘prostitutes’ that you won’t see in the report!”
Gustaf Kilander23 December 2024 15:26
‘There is a reason they did this to me in a Christmas Eve-Eve report and not in a courtroom,’ Gaetz says
Matt Gaetz wrote in a post on X: “Giving funds to someone you are dating – that they didn’t ask for – and that isn’t ‘charged’ for sex is now prostitution?!?”
He added: “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 ‘prostitutes’ that you won’t see in the report!”
Gustaf Kilander23 December 2024 15:25
Matt Gaetz sues ethics committee to block ‘defamatory’ report
The report follows a long-running investigation into allegations of sexual misconduct and illicit drug use while he was a member of Congress, when he allegedly spent tens of thousands of dollars on sex- and drug-fueled parties and travel.
He is accused of paying more than $90,000 to at least 12 different women, including a high school student, according to leaks of a draft of the report, which is expected to be released as early as Monday.
Alex Woodward23 December 2024 15:21
An analyst looks ahead to how the US economy might fare under Trump
President-elect Donald Trump won a return to the White House in part by promising big changes in economic policy — more tax cuts, huge tariffs on imports, mass deportations of immigrants working in the United States illegally.
In some ways, his victory marked a repudiation of President Joe Biden’s economic stewardship and a protest against inflation. It came despite low unemployment and steady growth under the Biden administration.
What lies ahead for the economy under Trump? Paul Ashworth of Capital Economics spoke recently to The Associated Press. The interview has been edited for length and clarity.
Paul Wiseman23 December 2024 15:00
Mandelson an ‘asset’ to UK-US ties, No 10 says after Trump ally jibe
Downing Street has rejected suggestions that Lord Mandelson becoming the UK’s ambassador to the US will cause more problems than benefits for the UK after he was insulted by a Donald Trump adviser.
Number 10 defended the Labour grandee as a “significant asset” to the transatlantic relationship after Chris LaCivita, an architect of the president-elect’s 2024 campaign, called him an “absolute moron”.
Asked whether the remark indicated that his appointment would be more problematic than beneficial for the UK, Sir Keir Starmer’s official spokesman said: “No… his appointment shows just how seriously we’re taking this relationship.
Nina Lloyd23 December 2024 14:40
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The economic and technological rivalry between the United States and China has come to the drone market, where Chinese-made flying devices are a dominant player.
“}},{“type”:”markup”,”data”:{“markup”:”
Lawmakers in Washington are seeking to ban new sales of drones from two dominant Chinese manufacturers, arguing they could be used to spy on Americans and that the low-cost models are hurting the U.S. drone industry.
“}},{“type”:”markup”,”data”:{“markup”:”
A defense bill that passed Congress last week would bar new Chinese drones from DJI Technology and Autel Robotics should a review find them to pose an “unacceptable” risk to U.S. national security.
“}},{“type”:”markup”,”data”:{“markup”:”
But American users, from police officers to farmers, mappers and filmmakers, have come to rely on Chinese-made drones, especially those by DJI.
“}},{“type”:”markup”,”data”:{“markup”:”
Here are things to know about the debate.
“}},{“type”:”article-link”,”data”:{“url”:”https://www.independent.co.uk/news/chinese-ap-elise-stefanik-congress-dji-b2669077.html”,”productId”:””,”title”:”Congress is looking to ban Chinese drones that are widely used in US. What to know about the debate”,”image”:{“url”:”https://static.independent.co.uk/2024/12/23/05/Congress_Banning_Chinese_Drones_41648.jpg?quality=75&width=1200&auto=webp”,”width”:null,”height”:null,”type”:”jpg”},”description”:”The economic and technological rivalry between the U.S. and China has come to the drone market”}}],”timestamp”:1734967816,”formattedTimestamp”:”23 December 2024 15:30″},{“type”:”post”,”data”:{“name”:”1840234″,”title”:”Gaetz takes to X to defend himself amid sexual misconduct allegations”,”id”:1895974,”uuid”:”12b151a4-40be-404f-8163-c3de14ae2f06″,”scheduleTime”:”0″,”created”:”1734967706″,”changed”:”1734968340″,”container”:1840234,”user”:{“name”:”Gustaf.Kilander”},”extra”:{“authorName”:”Gustaf Kilander”}},”postJson”:[{“type”:”twitter”,”data”:{“url”:”https://twitter.com/mattgaetz/status/1871210431877967960″,”isConversation”:false}},{“type”:”twitter”,”data”:{“url”:”https://twitter.com/mattgaetz/status/1871215973610762253″,”isConversation”:false}}],”timestamp”:1734967706,”formattedTimestamp”:”23 December 2024 15:28″},{“type”:”post”,”data”:{“name”:”1840234″,”title”:”‘There is a reason they did this to me in a Christmas Eve-Eve report and not in a courtroom,’ Gaetz says”,”id”:1895973,”uuid”:”b5c01bb3-baa3-4ee9-822d-a6be1df5d3b3″,”scheduleTime”:”0″,”created”:”1734967580″,”changed”:”1734967580″,”container”:1840234,”user”:{“name”:”Gustaf.Kilander”},”extra”:{“authorName”:”Gustaf Kilander”}},”postJson”:[{“type”:”markup”,”data”:{“markup”:”
Matt Gaetz wrote in a post on X: “Giving funds to someone you are dating – that they didn’t ask for – and that isn’t ‘charged’ for sex is now prostitution?!?”
“}},{“type”:”markup”,”data”:{“markup”:”
He added: “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 ‘prostitutes’ that you won’t see in the report!”
“}},{“type”:”twitter”,”data”:{“url”:”https://twitter.com/mattgaetz/status/1871207714665197718″,”isConversation”:false}}],”timestamp”:1734967580,”formattedTimestamp”:”23 December 2024 15:26″},{“type”:”post”,”data”:{“name”:”1840234″,”title”:”‘There is a reason they did this to me in a Christmas Eve-Eve report and not in a courtroom,’ Gaetz says”,”id”:1895972,”uuid”:”1a68fdb5-6d25-4904-9dd3-44cadb5d3004″,”scheduleTime”:”0″,”created”:”1734967521″,”changed”:”1734967521″,”container”:1840234,”user”:{“name”:”Gustaf.Kilander”},”extra”:{“authorName”:”Gustaf Kilander”}},”postJson”:[{“type”:”markup”,”data”:{“markup”:”
Matt Gaetz wrote in a post on X: “Giving funds to someone you are dating – that they didn’t ask for – and that isn’t ‘charged’ for sex is now prostitution?!?”
“}},{“type”:”markup”,”data”:{“markup”:”
He added: “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 ‘prostitutes’ that you won’t see in the report!”
“}},{“type”:”twitter”,”data”:{“url”:”https://twitter.com/mattgaetz/status/1871207714665197718″,”isConversation”:false}}],”timestamp”:1734967521,”formattedTimestamp”:”23 December 2024 15:25″},{“type”:”post”,”data”:{“name”:”1840234″,”title”:”Matt Gaetz sues ethics committee to block ‘defamatory’ report”,”id”:1895971,”uuid”:”4c29d92c-973a-4913-9859-a674d646697d”,”scheduleTime”:”0″,”created”:”1734967276″,”changed”:”1734967276″,”container”:1840234,”user”:{“name”:”Gustaf.Kilander”},”extra”:{“authorName”:”Alex Woodward”}},”postJson”:[{“type”:”markup”,”data”:{“markup”:”
Matt Gaetz is suing the House Ethics Committee to block the publication of a damning report into allegations he paid for sex with more than a dozen women, including a 17-year-old girl.
“}},{“type”:”markup”,”data”:{“markup”:”
The report follows a long-running investigation into allegations of sexual misconduct and illicit drug use while he was a member of Congress, when he allegedly spent tens of thousands of dollars on sex- and drug-fueled parties and travel.
“}},{“type”:”markup”,”data”:{“markup”:”
He is accused of paying more than $90,000 to at least 12 different women, including a high school student, according to leaks of a draft of the report, which is expected to be released as early as Monday.
“}},{“type”:”markup”,”data”:{“markup”:”
Read more:
“}},{“type”:”article-link”,”data”:{“url”:”https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/matt-gaetz-lawsuit-ethics-committee-report-b2669141.html”,”productId”:””,”title”:”Matt Gaetz sues ethics committee to block ‘defamatory’ report”,”image”:{“url”:”https://static.independent.co.uk/2024/12/23/14/2185260622.jpg?quality=75&width=1200&auto=webp”,”width”:null,”height”:null,”type”:”jpg”},”description”:”Gaetz is accused of spending tens of thousands of dollars on sex- and drug-fueled parties and travel”}}],”timestamp”:1734967276,”formattedTimestamp”:”23 December 2024 15:21″},{“type”:”post”,”data”:{“name”:”1840234″,”title”:”An analyst looks ahead to how the US economy might fare under Trump”,”id”:1895965,”uuid”:”4f71cb25-6232-46e8-a1ec-0c1a635f424c”,”scheduleTime”:”1734966016″,”created”:”1734964443″,”changed”:”1734964443″,”container”:1840234,”user”:{“name”:”Gustaf.Kilander”},”extra”:{“authorName”:”Paul Wiseman”}},”postJson”:[{“type”:”markup”,”data”:{“markup”:”
President-elect Donald Trump won a return to the White House in part by promising big changes in economic policy — more tax cuts, huge tariffs on imports, mass deportations of immigrants working in the United States illegally.
“}},{“type”:”markup”,”data”:{“markup”:”
In some ways, his victory marked a repudiation of President Joe Biden’s economic stewardship and a protest against inflation. It came despite low unemployment and steady growth under the Biden administration.
“}},{“type”:”markup”,”data”:{“markup”:”
What lies ahead for the economy under Trump? Paul Ashworth of Capital Economics spoke recently to The Associated Press. The interview has been edited for length and clarity.
“}},{“type”:”markup”,”data”:{“markup”:”
Read more:
“}},{“type”:”article-link”,”data”:{“url”:”https://www.independent.co.uk/news/donald-trump-ap-joe-biden-white-house-gdp-b2669086.html”,”productId”:””,”title”:”An analyst looks ahead to how the US economy might fare under Trump”,”image”:{“url”:”https://static.independent.co.uk/2024/12/23/13/Insider%20Q%26amp%3BA-Trump%20and%20the%20economy.jpg?quality=75&width=1200&auto=webp”,”width”:null,”height”:null,”type”:”jpg”},”description”:”President-elect Donald Trump won a return to the White House in part by promising big changes in economic policy — more tax cuts, huge tariffs on imports, mass deportations of immigrants working in the United States illegally”}}],”timestamp”:1734966016,”formattedTimestamp”:”23 December 2024 15:00″},{“type”:”post”,”data”:{“name”:”1840234″,”title”:”Mandelson an ‘asset’ to UK-US ties, No 10 says after Trump ally jibe”,”id”:1895964,”uuid”:”9365002f-4ba4-406f-9f32-44a45496f71b”,”scheduleTime”:”1734964816″,”created”:”1734964370″,”changed”:”1734964370″,”container”:1840234,”user”:{“name”:”Gustaf.Kilander”},”extra”:{“authorName”:”Nina Lloyd”}},”postJson”:[{“type”:”markup”,”data”:{“markup”:”
Downing Street has rejected suggestions that Lord Mandelson becoming the UK’s ambassador to the US will cause more problems than benefits for the UK after he was insulted by a Donald Trump adviser.
“}},{“type”:”markup”,”data”:{“markup”:”
Number 10 defended the Labour grandee as a “significant asset” to the transatlantic relationship after Chris LaCivita, an architect of the president-elect’s 2024 campaign, called him an “absolute moron”.
“}},{“type”:”markup”,”data”:{“markup”:”
Asked whether the remark indicated that his appointment would be more problematic than beneficial for the UK, Sir Keir Starmer’s official spokesman said: “No… his appointment shows just how seriously we’re taking this relationship.
“}},{“type”:”markup”,”data”:{“markup”:”
Read more:
“}},{“type”:”article-link”,”data”:{“url”:”https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/nigel-farage-new-labour-downing-street-trump-reform-uk-b2669084.html”,”productId”:””,”title”:”Mandelson an ‘asset’ to UK-US ties, No 10 says after Trump ally jibe”,”image”:{“url”:”https://static.independent.co.uk/2024/12/23/13/8d8cb340c29b4d38a69ab3da7353f6a7Y29udGVudHNlYXJjaGFwaSwxNzM1MDQ2MTQ1-2.43639155.jpg?quality=75&width=1200&auto=webp”,”width”:null,”height”:null,”type”:”jpg”},”description”:”Downing Street defended the Labour grandee as a ‘significant asset’ to the transatlantic relationship.”}}],”timestamp”:1734964816,”formattedTimestamp”:”23 December 2024 14:40″}],”lastChangedTimestamp”:1734969506,”paging”:{“total”:54,”posts”:10,”offset”:0,”postsIds”:[“1895967″,”1895978″,”1895977″,”1895966″,”1895974″,”1895973″,”1895972″,”1895971″,”1895965″,”1895964″,”1895960″,”1895959″,”1895958″,”1895954″,”1895841″,”1895839″,”1895838″,”1895831″,”1895837″,”1895835″,”1895832″,”1895836″,”1895834″,”1895830″,”1895829″,”1895827″,”1895826″,”1895825″,”1895824″,”1895823″,”1895790″,”1895762″,”1895747″,”1895738″,”1895630″,”1895325″,”1895618″,”1895577″,”1895550″,”1895069″,”1895504″,”1895480″,”1895461″,”1895455″,”1895453″,”1895429″,”1895386″,”1894798″,”1895252″,”1894794″,”1894776″,”1894736″,”1894486″,”1894485″],”totalPages”:6},”keyPointsHTML”:””,”keyPointsTitle”:”Key Points”,”sensitive”:false,”customProps”:{“isCommercial”:false,”isSensitive”:false,”isSubscribed”:false,”isAutoGalleryDisable”:false},”adTitleText”:”Advertisement”,”adUnitPathPrefix”:”71347885/_main_independent/in_news/in_world/video/”,”currentPage”:1,”status”:1,”isAdFreeUser”:false,”videoPlayerInfo”:{“playerId”:”9ygSIn9G”,”playerType”:”clicktoplay”,”adUnitPath”:”/71347885/_main_independent/in_news/in_world/video/hero_player”,”pageMetaData”:{“topicTags”:[“donald-trump”,”elon-musk”,”republicans”,”democrats”,”government-shutdown”,”joe-biden”,”senate”,”spending-bill”,”white-house”,”us-congress”,”matt-gaetz”,”republican”,”florida”,”phoenix”,”s_news”,”s_world”,”s_americas”,”s_us-politics”],”pageId”:”CF1:2669004To1″,”mantisChannels”:{“lastModified”:”2024-12-23T14:03:57.000Z”,”ratings”:[{“customer”:”Default”,”rating”:”RED”},{“customer”:”COVIDSafe”,”rating”:”RED”},{“customer”:”Omnicomdv”,”rating”:”RED”},{“customer”:”Facebook”,”rating”:”GREEN”},{“customer”:”Sabic_Mobkoi”,”rating”:”RED”},{“customer”:”HSBC”,”rating”:”RED”},{“customer”:”Intel”,”rating”:”RED”},{“customer”:”Microsoft_Main”,”rating”:”RED”},{“customer”:”Microsoft_03″,”rating”:”RED”},{“customer”:”Saudi_Aramco”,”rating”:”RED”},{“customer”:”LG”,”rating”:”RED”},{“customer”:”Loop_Me”,”rating”:”RED”},{“customer”:”Volkswagen_Main”,”rating”:”RED”},{“customer”:”Castrol”,”rating”:”RED”},{“customer”:”Hoopla”,”rating”:”RED”},{“customer”:”Collective”,”rating”:”RED”},{“customer”:”Diageo”,”rating”:”RED”},{“customer”:”O2_Havas”,”rating”:”RED”},{“customer”:”Sukin”,”rating”:”RED”},{“customer”:”Tanqueray”,”rating”:”RED”},{“customer”:”Tesco_GroupM_GPS”,”rating”:”RED”},{“customer”:”TTD_UK”,”rating”:”RED”},{“customer”:”WWF”,”rating”:”RED”},{“customer”:”Tier2″,”rating”:”RED”},{“customer”:”ukraine_aden”,”rating”:”RED”},{“customer”:”war_aden”,”rating”:”GREEN”},{“customer”:”PHD”,”rating”:”RED”},{“customer”:”War_BS”,”rating”:”RED”},{“customer”:”Positive_RussiaUkraine_BS”,”rating”:”RED”},{“customer”:”Apple”,”rating”:”RED”},{“customer”:”corgi”,”rating”:”GREEN”},{“customer”:”next”,”rating”:”RED”},{“customer”:”omnicom_IAS”,”rating”:”RED”},{“customer”:”pernodKW”,”rating”:”RED”},{“customer”:”McCains_aden”,”rating”:”RED”},{“customer”:”santander”,”rating”:”GREEN”},{“customer”:”ageas”,”rating”:”GREEN”},{“customer”:”bain”,”rating”:”GREEN”},{“customer”:”pandora”,”rating”:”RED”},{“customer”:”nationwide”,”rating”:”RED”},{“customer”:”sky”,”rating”:”RED”},{“customer”:”bp”,”rating”:”RED”},{“customer”:”hyundai”,”rating”:”GREEN”},{“customer”:”jpmc”,”rating”:”RED”},{“customer”:”reburberry”,”rating”:”RED”},{“customer”:”singaporeair”,”rating”:”RED”},{“customer”:”lombard”,”rating”:”GREEN”},{“customer”:”glenfiddich”,”rating”:”GREEN”},{“customer”:”rolex”,”rating”:”RED”},{“customer”:”hooplaintel”,”rating”:”RED”},{“customer”:”macallan”,”rating”:”RED”},{“customer”:”givenchy”,”rating”:”RED”},{“customer”:”morrisons”,”rating”:”GREEN”},{“customer”:”richemont”,”rating”:”RED”}],”categories”:{“iab”:[{“id”:380,”score”:0.996508}],”watson”:[{“score”:0.996508,”label”:”/society/crime/sexual offense/rape”},{“score”:0.878494,”label”:”/society/sex”}],”mantis”:[{“label”:”society”,”score”:0.996508},{“label”:”crime”,”score”:0.996508},{“label”:”sexual_offense”,”score”:0.996508},{“label”:”sex”,”score”:0.878494},{“label”:”Business”,”score”:0.632346},{“label”:”380″,”score”:0.996508},{“label”:”383″,”score”:0.743421},{“label”:”InternationalTravel”,”score”:0.439993},{“label”:”PurposefulDiscoverers”,”score”:0.782254},{“label”:”NewsJunkies”,”score”:0.795609},{“label”:”SME”,”score”:0.633431}]},”sentiment”:”veryNegative”}}},”lang”:”en”,”isClimate”:false,”isSGI”:false}
