JUST IN: Matt Gaetz Allegedly Paid Over $10,000 to Witnesses in House Probe, Leaked Records Show
The House Ethics Committee obtained records that reportedly show President-elect Donald Trump’s attorney general pick Matt Gaetz paid more than $10,000 to two women who later testified in sexual misconduct investigations.
The documents obtained by ABC News appear to show Venmo transactions reviewed by the committee as part of it’s investigation into Gaetz, which was shut down after the former congressman promptly resigned when he received Trump’s nomination.
The records are said to show payments made by Gaetz between July 2017 and January 2019, totaling $10,224.02 and allegedly sent to two witnesses who testified in probes by both the House and the Justice Department. Payments ranged from $100 to over $700 and were reportedly labeled with notes such as “Gift,” “Car deductible,” and “Refreshments.” Other notes show comments, such as “being awesome” and “xtra 4 u.”
Notably, one payment described as “travel” coincided with a September 2018 trip to the Bahamas—a trip previously flagged in a Justice Department investigation into Gaetz. Another series of transactions in early 2019 allegedly covered flights for two women who joined Gaetz on a trip to New York, where he appeared on Fox News’ Outnumbered.
Payment records from the House Ethics Committee probe of Matt Gaetz obtained by ABC News. (Screengrab via ABC News)
Sources told ABC News that the Venmo records were displayed during closed-door testimony, with witnesses alleging that some of the payments were made for sex. The Ethics Committee also reportedly obtained a $750 check from Gaetz labeled “tuition reimbursement,” which one witness testified she received directly from him.
Payment records from the House Ethics Committee probe of Matt Gaetz obtained by ABC News. (Screengrab via ABC News)
Gaetz continues to deny the allegations. A spokesperson for Trump’s transition team dismissed the allegations as “baseless” and part of an effort to undermine the incoming administration.
“The Justice Department received access to roughly every financial transaction Matt Gaetz ever undertook and came to the conclusion that he committed no crime,” the spokesperson said. “These leaks are meant to undermine the mandate from the people to reform the Justice Department.”
The House Ethics Committee is set to meet Wednesday to decide whether to release its report on Gaetz, despite his resignation effectively ending its investigation.
