Informe del Congreso de EE.UU. revela que Matt Gaetz pagó 'regularmente' a mujeres por sexo, incluyendo a una menor

El excongresista Matt Gaetz, a quien Donald Trump eligió como su candidato para el cargo de fiscal general de EE. UU. antes de que se viera obligado a retirarse debido a un escándalo, “regularmente” pagó a mujeres a cambio de relaciones sexuales, incluida una menor de 17 años, entre 2017 y 2020, cuando era miembro de la Cámara de Representantes por el Estado de Florida. Esta es la conclusión de un informe del Comité de Ética del Congreso que se hizo público el 23 de diciembre, el cual también acusa a Gaetz de violar “las reglas de la Cámara, así como leyes estatales y federales, y otros estándares de conducta que prohíben la prostitución, la violación estatutaria, el uso de drogas ilícitas, la aceptación de regalos prohibidos, la provisión de favores y privilegios especiales, y la obstrucción del Congreso [en sus investigaciones]”.

Gaetz, one of Washington’s most controversial politicians, denies the allegations. He resigned from his post shortly before being appointed by Trump, hoping the report would not be made public because, he argued, the committee has no jurisdiction over former members. On Monday morning, Gaetz tried unsuccessfully to stop the report from being released. He later tweeted 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?!? 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.” In subsequent messages, Gaetz extracts “testimony from one of the alleged ‘prostitutes,’” who denies having received money from him.

The 37-page document is the result of a bipartisan investigation that has lasted nearly five years. Its release was made possible after at least one Republican joined the five Democrats on the committee in a secret vote held in early December. The Republican Party, despite Gaetz not being one of its most popular members, was opposed to the report being published, with House Speaker Mike Johnson at the forefront. Johnson also had a problem with publishing the findings about a former member of Congress, something that is highly unusual but has some precedents.