The report, released two days before Christmas, details how the then-Florida congressman paid thousands of dollars to women for sex from 2017 to 2020. The committee also found Gaetz used or possessed drugs like cocaine and ecstasy numerous times and violated Florida's statutory rape law after having sex with a 17-year-old girl back in 2017.
In the days leading up to and immediately following the report's release, Gaetz repeatedly denied the allegations and pointed to federal investigators declining not to press charges amidst their own sex trafficking investigation. Unsurprisingly, President-elect Donald Trump came to his one-time attorney general's pick defense.
And just like their fearless leader, some Florida Republican lawmakers were quick to criticize the report's findings and defend their Florida Man.
Florida's youngest state legislator, Juan Carlos Porras, who represents West Kendall, Country Walk, and other portions of incorporated Miami-Dade County, proclaimed his support for Gaetz in the hours after the report was released.
"I have always looked up to Matt Gaetz for being one of the most prominent fighters in the Republican Party," Porras wrote on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter. "No opposition research disguised as an ethics report will change that. I stand with him and hope to see him continue his public service in the near future."
In response, one X user encouraged him to "find better role models."I have always looked up to @mattgaetz for being one of the most prominent fighters in the Republican Party. No opposition research disguised as an ethics report will change that. I stand with him and hope to see him continue his public service in the near future.
— Juan C. Porras (@JuanPorrasFL) December 23, 2024
U.S. Rep. Anna Paulina Luna of District 13, which covers parts of Clearwater and St. Petersburg just outside of Tampa, called the report "BS."
"Just so everyone knows, the woman who leaked the 'report' on @mattgaetz was kicked off committee on ethics (to my knowledge) right before ending her term in office," Luna chimed in. "This is the same bs we've been hearing for the last couple of years. No charges were filed and you can bet if there was anything, the Biden admin would have brought charges. I'm just wondering whether or not Congress will be releasing reports on every member with unfounded allegations."
State Representative Alex Andrade of District 2 is waiting for Gaetz's opportunity to confront his accusers.Just so everyone knows the woman who leaked the “report” on @mattgaetz was kicked off committee on ethics (to my knowledge) right before ending her term in office. This is the same bs we’ve been hearing for the last couple of years. No charges were filed and you can bet if there…
— Anna Paulina Luna (@realannapaulina) December 23, 2024
"I'm still wondering when @mattgaetz gets to confront his accusers," Andrade added. "Anonymous accusations aren't admissible in court for very good reason. The release of this report is disgusting and unAmerican."
State Sen. and ex-chairman of the Florida GOP Joe Gruters simply retweeted Gaetz's post referencing the Politico article titled, "Trump allies to Gaetz: Don't back down."I’m still wondering when @mattgaetz gets to confront his accusers.
— Alex Andrade (@RAlexAndradeFL) December 23, 2024
Anonymous accusations aren’t admissible in court for very good reason.
The release of this report is disgusting and unAmerican. https://t.co/kFY6Q7PWtK
