A report by the House Ethics Committee found former Rep. Matt Gaetz paid multiple women, including a 17-year-old girl, for sex.

From the report: “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.”

More: “The record overwhelmingly suggests that Representative Gaetz had sex with multiple women at a 2017 Florida party, including the then-17-year-old, for which they were paid… Victim A recalled receiving $400 in cash from Representative Gaetz that evening, which she understood to be payment for sex. At the time, she had just completed her junior year of high school. Victim A said that she did not inform Representative Gaetz that she was under 18 at the time, nor did he ask her age.”

  • Rapidcreek@lemmy.worldOP
    14·
    2 days ago

    I dont think there are comparable federal laws for rape. Human trafficking and wire fraud, sure but rape is dependant on the laws of the state. The Federal case was hampered by the lack of credible witnesses. The state of Florida will do nothing because DeSantis and Rapey are good friends.

    • shalafi@lemmy.worldEnglish
      4·
      2 days ago

      Not many people seem to know about the lack of witnesses and think dropping the case was garden variety corruption.

      But! The (former) minor in question and his good buddy Joel have both been happily singing their little hearts out. Wish they had sung early enough to nail him, but I’m happy enough they finally talked. And boy did a bunch of other people talk!

      • Rapidcreek@lemmy.worldOP
        5·
        2 days ago

        Joel stole millions of dollars while being tax collector of a Florida county. What did he do with that money. He, and his good friend Matt used it as fuel for coke and sex parties. So he rolled on Matt. He’s now in jail for federal fraud charges.

    • ditty@lemm.eeEnglish
      1·
      2 days ago

      The committee said it did not find sufficient evidence Gaetz violated the federal sex trafficking statute because although he transported women across state lines for the purpose of sex, those women were all 18 or older at the time.

      What exactly is the purpose of that federal sex trafficking law if it doesn’t apply in this case!?

      • Rapidcreek@lemmy.worldOP
        6·
        2 days ago

        That’s a trafficking charge. But, as far as I know, the Feds had a problem with credible witnesses. The victim is now working as a porn star. The DOJ thought that they shouldn’t prosecute a case they would lose.

      • shalafi@lemmy.worldEnglish
        1·
        2 days ago

        Sex trafficking is the recruitment, harboring, transportation, provision, obtaining, patronizing, or soliciting of a person for the purposes of a commercial sex act, in which the commercial sex act is induced by force, fraud, or coercion, or in which the person induced to perform such an act has not attained 18 years of age (22 USC § 7102).

        None of that applies here.