Matt Gaetz Ethics Report: What’s Next for Former Lawmaker

What’s New

The future of former Congressman Matt Gaetz is unclear after the House Ethics Committee released a report alleging that the Florida Republican committed a host of ethical and potentially criminal infractions including statutory rape

The report was released on Monday and revealed that the committee found “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.”

Why It Matters

Gaetz resigned from Congress immediately after being nominated by President-elect Donald Trump to serve as U.S. attorney general last month.

While the release of the report was temporarily blocked by Gaetz’s resignation, the allegations prompted doubts about his ability to be confirmed to Trump’s Cabinet by the U.S. Senate. He ultimately withdrew from consideration one week after being nominated.

What To Know

While the former congressman could be facing potential criminal and civil liabilities tied to the allegations, Gaetz remains a popular figure among MAGA Republicans and at 42- years-old could also still have a long political career ahead of him.

Gaetz said during a Turning Point USA event in Arizona on Sunday that he could be a candidate in the 2026 Florida gubernatorial election, become a special counsel and “go after” his former House colleagues or run for the soon-to-be-vacant Florida U.S. Senate seat of Marco Rubio, Trump’s nominee for U.S. secretary of state.

“My friend Steve Bannon and others have suggested that I return to the House of Representatives on January 3rd,” Gaetz added. “But I would remind Steve, when he got out of prison, he didn’t punch a guard on the way out. For the moment, I’ll enjoy being one of you.”

Since Gaetz is no longer a U.S. House member, he cannot be punished for any ethical violations in the chamber.

Newsweek reached out for comment to the Republican National Committee and the office of Florida Governor Ron DeSantis via email on Monday.

What People Are Saying

Lawyer and legal analyst Joey Jackson, during a CNN appearance on Monday: “He has a ‘get out of jail free’ card… as long as a person in the White House is a person who’s a friend of his, there will be no federal prosecution, much less any charges.”

Republican strategist Shermichael Singleton, on CNN: “I think maybe he may run for governor. I’m not exactly sure if DeSantis would appoint him to the Senate, I think the governor is probably eyeing a couple of other individuals.”

The left-leaning Art Candee account on X, formerly Twitter: “Matt Gaetz should be in prison.”

What Happens Next

Gaetz is scheduled to begin hosting The Matt Gaetz Show, a one-hour political talk show on the right-wing One America News Network, beginning at 9 p.m. Eastern Time on January 6, 2025.