Lawyer Says Clients told Ethics Committee Gaetz Paid Them for Sex

Former Rep. Matt Gaetz paid two adult clients for sex, according to the lawyer representing them. Attorney Joel Leppard told ABC News that the two women he is representing were paid in the app Venmo. 

Gaetz resigned from the House of Representatives last week when he became Trump’s pick for attorney general. He has been facing a years-long investigation from the House Ethics Committee regarding alleged sexual misconduct and illegal drug use. His resignation effectively ended the investigation because he is no longer under Congress’ jurisdiction. The committee was reportedly set to vote Friday on whether to release the report, and it’s now unclear whether that will happen.

Gaetz was also under federal investigation for allegedly having sex with a minor. The Justice Department ultimately didn’t elect to bring charges, but concerns persist as the former Florida representative is now poised to take over the department himself.

“Just to be clear, both of your clients testified that they were paid by Rep. Gaetz to have sex?” ABC News’ Juju Chang asked Leppard on Monday, referring to his clients’ testimony before the Ethics Committee.

“That’s correct. The House was very clear about that and went through each. They essentially put the Venmo payments on the screen and asked about them. And my clients repeatedly testified, ‘What was this payment for?’ ‘That was for sex,'” Leppard said.

Leppard also said that one of his clients saw Gaetz having sex with a minor. “She testified [that] in July of 2017, at this house party, she was walking out to the pool area, and she looked to her right, and she saw Rep. Gaetz having sex with her friend, who was 17,” he said.

Leppard has called for the House Ethics Committee report to be released. The committee is expected to meet on Wednesday to discuss the matter. A member of Congress would potentially be able to propose a vote to force the committee to release the report, and Gaetz is deeply unpopular among lawmakers.

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“If you’re a member of Congress, do you really want to be in the business of defending Matt Gaetz?” former Pennsylvania Republican Rep. Charlie Dent, who previously led the Ethics Committee, asked ABC News.

The House Ethics investigation also concerns personal use of campaign funds and sharing inappropriate videos or photos on the House floor.

Gaetz has denied all of the allegations against him. “Lies were Weaponized to try to destroy me,” he posted on X last week.

The Trump camp continues to defend the president-elect’s pick. “Matt Gaetz will be the next Attorney General. He’s the right man for the job and will end the weaponization of our justice system,” Trump transition spokesperson Alex Pfeiffer told ABC News. 

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“These are baseless allegations intended to derail the second Trump administration,” he added.“The Biden Justice Department investigated Gaetz for years and cleared him of wrongdoing. The only people who went to prison over these allegations were those lying about Matt Gaetz.”

Gaetz still faces a hurdle in Senate confirmation, and senators of both parties have said they would like to see the Ethics Committee’s report before making a decision. Trump has pushed for the Senate, now controlled by Republicans, to allow him to make “recess appointments,” which means he could force through his nominees while Congress is on a break.