US congressman Matt Gaetz accused of paying for sex, according to bombshell report

Donald Trump’s first pick to run the justice department, Matt Gaetz, is facing “substantial evidence” he paid for sex with a teenage girl, according to a new investigation.

Matt Gaetz, who Donald Trump hand-picked to lead the US justice department, is accused of paying for sex - including twice with a 17-year-old girl - according to a bombshell report.

The former Republican congressman was the incoming President’s top choice for Attorney-General, but his name was pulled out of the hat as sexual misconduct rumours swirled.

Mr Gaetz, 42, is now facing “substantial evidence” of conduct that violated not just the rules of Congress, but federal and state laws as well as other standards of conduct prohibiting prostitution, statutory rape and illegal drug use, according to a congressional committee.

Donald Trump (L) picked Matt Gaetz (R) as his top choice to run the US Department of Justice. Picture: Supplied

The bipartisan ethics group, made of five Republicans and five Democrats, did not find substantial evidence of sex trafficking and confirmed he did not know the girl’s age.

However, investigators found he broke multiple sexual misconduct laws in his home state of Florida and listed payments totalling more than US$90,000 (A$144,000) to 12 women.

The transactions allegedly took place between 2017 and 2020 and included a trip to the Bahamas during which he is accused of having sex with four women while taking drugs.

The committee found he regularly used cocaine and ecstasy.

Mr Gaetz, who resigned from Congress in November, has denied any wrongdoing.

The Republican withdrew his name from consideration for attorney-general when it became clear he lacked the support of party members. Picture: Brendan Smialowski/AFP

The former politician posted a series of tweets refuting some of the allegations.

“Giving funds to someone you are dating - that they didn’t ask for - and that isn’t ‘charged’ for sex is now prostitution?!?” he posted on X.

“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.”

Mr Gaetz has pointed to the Justice Department’s decision not to bring charges against him after a criminal probe in 2023 and he took legal action to try and block the new report.

The ex-congressman is an incendiary figure on Capitol Hill, but is known to be a staunch Trump loyalist and a favourite of the president-elect and his supporters.

Tech billionaire and Trump supporter Elon Musk (L) lauded Mr Gaetz as America’s “Hammer of Justice”. Picture: Brandon Bell/Getty Images via AFP

Tech billionaire Elon Musk – who is Trump’s incoming “efficiency czar” — has inserted himself into all manner of decision-making in the presidential transition process.

He previously lauded Mr Gaetz as America’s “Hammer of Justice”.

“Matt Gaetz has three critical assets that are needed for the AG role: a big brain, a spine of steel and an axe to grind,” Musk posted on his social media platform, X.

The allegations against Gaetz had been openly discussed for years.

Women told congressional investigators they were paid for sex at events by Gaetz and his friend Joel Greenberg, a former tax collector, who was jailed for 11 years.

The former politician allegedly made payments of US$90,000 (A$144,000) to 12 women between 2017 and 2020. Picture: Saul Loeb/AFP

One alleged she was 17 years old when she had sex with Gaetz twice at a party in 2017.

“Victim A recalled receiving $400 in cash from Representative Gaetz that evening, which she understood to be payment for sex,” the report said.

“At the time, she had just completed her junior year of high school.”

Mr Gaetz denied having sex with a minor in written responses to the committee and all of the women who testified said their sexual encounters were consensual.

With AFP.