# Matt Gaetz being investigated for sex with 17 year old girl (DOJ declines to charge 2023-02-15) **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [March 30, 2021, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/matt-gaetz-being-investigated-for-sex-with-17-year-old-girl-doj-declines-to-charge-2023-02-15/939052 "2021-03-30T22:13:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 39
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2024, 3:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/matt-gaetz-being-investigated-for-sex-with-17-year-old-girl-doj-declines-to-charge-2023-02-15/939052/764 "2024-11-18T03:21:15Z")
> [@Irishman](#): > > Saying Clinton wasn’t convicted in the Senate proves that Clinton didn’t do anything wrong means Trump didn’t do anything wrong, because he wasn’t convicted in the Senate. True, trump wasnt convicted in the Senate, if was the Superior Court of New York. ---
**Author:** ![Irishman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b487fb/32.png) [@Irishman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Irishman)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2024, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/matt-gaetz-being-investigated-for-sex-with-17-year-old-girl-doj-declines-to-charge-2023-02-15/939052/765 "2024-11-18T16:01:19Z")
> [@F.U.Shakespeare](#): > > Clinton left office January 20, 2001. Oops, it looks like I can’t read. Thank you for correcting me. The Impeachment trial for Clinton was while he was in office, so that’s one complaint I messed up. The court admission also happened while he was still in office. His license was suspended on Jan.19, 2001. > [@DrDeth](#): > > True, trump wasnt convicted in the Senate, if was the Superior Court of New York. Stop conflating issues. I was discussing _impeachment_ and the claim no President from either party can now be convicted of it. Not legal proceedings after he left office. ---
**Author:** ![wguy123](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wguy123/32/3161_2.png) [@wguy123](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wguy123)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2024, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/matt-gaetz-being-investigated-for-sex-with-17-year-old-girl-doj-declines-to-charge-2023-02-15/939052/766 "2024-11-19T16:39:52Z")
Our future Attn General might have done some bad stuff. I thought the guy was squeaky clean? Just kidding. > **[Hacker Is Said to Have Gained Access to File With Damaging Testimony About Gaetz](https://www.nytimes.com/2024/11/19/us/politics/matt-gaetz-hack-testimony.html)** > > The computer file is said to contain testimony from the woman who said she had sex with Matt Gaetz, President-elect Donald Trump’s choice to be attorney general, when she was 17. ---
**Author:** ![joebuck20](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/74df32/32.png) [@joebuck20](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/joebuck20)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2024, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/matt-gaetz-being-investigated-for-sex-with-17-year-old-girl-doj-declines-to-charge-2023-02-15/939052/767 "2024-11-19T16:49:58Z")
Senate Republicans are hoping Trump doesn’t make them “walk the plank.” [Senate Republicans deliver a message to Trump: Gaetz isn’t confirmable - POLITICO](https://www.politico.com/news/2024/11/19/senate-republicans-matt-gaetz-attorney-general-00190332) > Numerous Republican lawmakers told Donald Trump and his team that they believe his pick to be attorney general, controversial Rep. Matt Gaetz, has little chance of being confirmed, according to multiple Senate Republican and people around Trump. And they’re privately hoping Trump doesn’t make them walk the plank. ---
**Author:** ![excavating\_for\_a\_mind](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e8c25b/32.png) [@excavating\_for\_a\_mind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/excavating_for_a_mind)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2024, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/matt-gaetz-being-investigated-for-sex-with-17-year-old-girl-doj-declines-to-charge-2023-02-15/939052/768 "2024-11-19T17:10:08Z")
I have a theory that a considerable amount of Trump’s “power” over Senate Republicans is predicated on the idea that nobody is going to have the ~~nerve~~ backbone to stand up to him in any meaningful way. That is, he isn’t expecting more than one or two to stand in his way and he feels he can just bulldoze those over with bluster and threats. If he tries to make them “walk the plank,” I suspect he’ll find that the ones who are willing will be too many for him to make an example of and it won’t work. Remember, approx. 1/3rd of the Senate Republicans won’t be up for re-election until 2030 (the ones elected this year), so they don’t have as much to fear. That’s what, 10-15 of them? Some others (like McConnell) are planning or retiring, anyway, so he can’t hurt those, either. It only takes 4 or 5 to vote down anything Trump proposes. Sure, it’s easy to use the threat of being primaried on House members, they are up for re-election every two years. It’s harder to make that stick on Senators. And, even in the House, if Trump’s takeover attempt of the US Government shows signs of faltering, he’s likely to lose support there as those critters are likely to begin to fear a Big Blue Wave in 2026. No, this is a big showdown, and I am grateful for the Republican Senators willing to stand up. ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2024, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/matt-gaetz-being-investigated-for-sex-with-17-year-old-girl-doj-declines-to-charge-2023-02-15/939052/769 "2024-11-19T17:10:08Z")
I don’t think they understand he WANTS to make them. It’s part of his revenge campaign. ---
**Author:** ![Jas09](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/d07c76/32.png) [@Jas09](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jas09)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2024, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/matt-gaetz-being-investigated-for-sex-with-17-year-old-girl-doj-declines-to-charge-2023-02-15/939052/770 "2024-11-19T18:00:17Z")
> [@excavating\_for\_a\_mind](#): > > No, this is a big showdown, and I am grateful for the Republican Senators willing to stand up. They haven’t done shit yet. I’ll believe that more than 2-3 of them will refuse to swallow the Gaetz sandwich when I see it. _Best_ case scenario they draw the line at Gaetz and then confirm Gabbard, Hegseth, and RFK Jr. So instead of a child predator and drug addict at DOJ, an anti-vax nutjob at HHS, a sexual abuser at DOD, and a Russian asset as DNI, we just have the last 3. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2024, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/matt-gaetz-being-investigated-for-sex-with-17-year-old-girl-doj-declines-to-charge-2023-02-15/939052/771 "2024-11-21T19:04:54Z")
Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaand he’s out: > **[Matt Gaetz withdraws his bid for attorney general amid sexual misconduct...](https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/justice-department/matt-gaetz-withdraws-bid-attorney-general-sexual-misconduct-allegation-rcna181206)** > > Trump's choice had been hindered by sexual misconduct allegations and a House Ethics Committee investigation. ---
**Author:** ![Railer13](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/railer13/32/9742_2.png) [@Railer13](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Railer13)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2024, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/matt-gaetz-being-investigated-for-sex-with-17-year-old-girl-doj-declines-to-charge-2023-02-15/939052/772 "2024-11-21T19:27:06Z")
It’s pretty obvious (to me, anyway) that the House report contains enough damaging evidence to derail his confirmation. And enough Senators would demand the report so it would have to be given to the Senate. So will we American citizens ever know what’s in the report? Inquiring minds want to know, dammit! ---
**Author:** ![Stratocaster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stratocaster/32/16393_2.png) [@Stratocaster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stratocaster)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2024, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/matt-gaetz-being-investigated-for-sex-with-17-year-old-girl-doj-declines-to-charge-2023-02-15/939052/773 "2024-11-21T20:18:22Z")
> [@Railer13](#): > > It’s pretty obvious (to me, anyway) that the House report contains enough damaging evidence to derail his confirmation. And enough Senators would demand the report so it would have to be given to the Senate. He was already a dead man walking. Per the article, five GOP senators were already on the record (and had communicated this to Trump’s team) that they would not be voting to confirm Gaetz and that there was about a snowball’s chance in hell that they could be persuaded otherwise. Gaetz could only afford to lose three Republican votes, and that’s assuming no additional defections. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2026, 10:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/matt-gaetz-being-investigated-for-sex-with-17-year-old-girl-doj-declines-to-charge-2023-02-15/939052/774 "2026-01-22T10:19:44Z")
UPDATE: A Florida newspaper has acquired the unpublished House ethics report on Gaetz. They found that he was guilty as sin. > **[Gaetz\_20250026869.pdf](https://www.floridabulldog.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Gaetz_20250026869.pdf)** > There is substantial evidence that Representative Gaetz paid women for sex, and had others pay women for sex on his behalf. The Committee heard testimony from over half a dozen witnesses who attended parties, events, and trips with Representative Gaetz from 2017-2020. Nearly every young woman that the Committee interviewed confirmed that she was paid for sex by, or on behalf of, Representative Gaetz… > > There is substantial evidence that Representative Gaetz engaged in sexual activity with a 17-year-old girl. The Committee received credible testimony from Victim A herself, as well as multiple individuals corroborating the allegation. Several of those witnesses have also testified under oath before a federal grand jury and in a civil litigation… > > There is substantial evidence that Representative Gaetz used cocaine, ecstasy, and marijuana. At least two women saw Representative Gaetz using cocaine and ecstasy at different events. Even more women understood him to regularly be using ecstasy. There is also ample evidence that Representative Gaetz purchased and used marijuana; he appears to have set up a pseudonymous e-mail account from his House office in the Capitol complex for the purpose of purchasing marijuana… > > There is substantial evidence that Representative Gaetz received impermissible gifts in connection with his travel to the Bahamas in September 2018. Specifically, Representative Gaetz accepted travel via a private plane and other travel costs… > > The Committee found substantial evidence that Representative Gaetz used the power of his office to assist a woman with whom he was engaged in a sexual relationship in obtaining an expedited passport… > > The Committee found substantial evidence that Representative Gaetz engaged in obstructive conduct with respect to the Committee’s investigation… > > Based on the above, 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. ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2026, 11:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/matt-gaetz-being-investigated-for-sex-with-17-year-old-girl-doj-declines-to-charge-2023-02-15/939052/775 "2026-01-22T11:11:00Z")
What a prince of a guy! Too bad he dropped out before being confirmed – he would have been a perfect match in this gang of hoodlums. ---
**Author:** ![Mollie\_Magill](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mollie_magill/32/20882_2.png) [@Mollie\_Magill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mollie_Magill)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2026, 2:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/matt-gaetz-being-investigated-for-sex-with-17-year-old-girl-doj-declines-to-charge-2023-02-15/939052/776 "2026-01-22T14:29:05Z")
Sounds like Madison Cawthorn wasn’t too far off with his reports of cocaine orgies. ---
**Author:** ![DWMarch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dwmarch/32/1010_2.png) [@DWMarch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DWMarch)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2026, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/matt-gaetz-being-investigated-for-sex-with-17-year-old-girl-doj-declines-to-charge-2023-02-15/939052/777 "2026-01-23T00:28:20Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > They found that he was guilty as sin. Gaetz walked so Trump could run. (Well, you know, for a certain definition of “run” that does not actually involve moving.) ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2026, 1:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/matt-gaetz-being-investigated-for-sex-with-17-year-old-girl-doj-declines-to-charge-2023-02-15/939052/778 "2026-01-23T01:32:12Z")
> [@DWMarch](#): > > (Well, you know, for a certain definition of “run” that does not actually involve moving.) The way a spray tan will run with too much flop sweat? [![](https://mediaproxy.snopes.com/width/1200/height/900/https://media.snopes.com/2024/01/trump_clinton_iowa_2024.jpg) ](https://mediaproxy.snopes.com/width/1200/height/900/https://media.snopes.com/2024/01/trump_clinton_iowa_2024.jpg) I don’t think anyone is really shocked to learn that there was a mound of evidence showing Matt’s guilt. ---
**Author:** ![wguy123](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wguy123/32/3161_2.png) [@wguy123](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wguy123)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2026, 1:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/matt-gaetz-being-investigated-for-sex-with-17-year-old-girl-doj-declines-to-charge-2023-02-15/939052/779 "2026-01-23T01:43:31Z")
Other people were paying for Gaetz to have sex with women, some minors? Is everyone on the right a complete douche canoe? ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2026, 1:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/matt-gaetz-being-investigated-for-sex-with-17-year-old-girl-doj-declines-to-charge-2023-02-15/939052/780 "2026-01-23T01:44:09Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > They found that he was guilty as sin. The House doesnt get to decide if anyone is “guilty” of a crime like that. What they found was-_substantial evidence_. ---
**Author:** ![Snarky\_Kong](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a183cd/32.png) [@Snarky\_Kong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snarky_Kong)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2026, 1:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/matt-gaetz-being-investigated-for-sex-with-17-year-old-girl-doj-declines-to-charge-2023-02-15/939052/781 "2026-01-23T01:51:02Z")
deleted ---
**Author:** ![Euphonious\_Polemic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/euphonious_polemic/32/3002_2.png) [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2026, 2:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/matt-gaetz-being-investigated-for-sex-with-17-year-old-girl-doj-declines-to-charge-2023-02-15/939052/782 "2026-01-23T02:07:48Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > The House doesnt get to decide if anyone is “guilty” of a crime like that. What they found was-_substantial evidence_.. Oh well that’s OK then. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2026, 2:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/matt-gaetz-being-investigated-for-sex-with-17-year-old-girl-doj-declines-to-charge-2023-02-15/939052/783 "2026-01-23T02:11:14Z")
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