WASHINGTON — Records obtained by the House committee probing sexual misconduct allegations against former Rep. Matt Gaetz, who has been nominated by President-elect Donald Trump for attorney general, show $10,000 in payments made by Gaetz to two women who later testified in the investigation, several media outlets have reported.

The House Ethics Committee is currently examining several documents, first disclosed by ABC News and later confirmed by the Washington Post, which detail a total of 27 payments made by Gaetz via Venmo and Paypal, amounting to $10,224 to these two witnesses between July 2017 and January 2019. Both women were aged over 18 at the time of the transactions, according to ABC.

An attorney representing the women has claimed that Gaetz paid them for sexual services and mentioned that one of his clients allegedly witnessed him engaging in sexual activity with a 17-year-old girl at a party.

During a private meeting on Wednesday, the bipartisan ethics committee opted not to release its findings regarding Gaetz, despite Democratic members voting to make the information public, while their Republican counterparts resisted, as reported by legislators who were present.

The investigation focuses on Gaetz’s alleged involvement in drug-fueled sex parties that occurred from 2017 to 2020.

According to a report from The New York Times on Wednesday, federal investigators created a complex diagram with thumbnail images of Gaetz along with various individuals to illustrate how he routed payments through middlemen to several women.

Previously, Gaetz was investigated by the Justice Department for allegations involving sexual relations with a 17-year-old girl and for allegedly financing her travel with him. However, the DOJ concluded its three-year investigation into sex trafficking in February 2023 without pressing any charges against Gaetz. Still, the Ethics Commission gathered a copy of the payment diagram for its own inquiry, as per the Times.

Gaetz has vehemently denied any misdeeds.

Republicans in the House, including Speaker Mike Johnson, contend that the report on Gaetz should remain confidential, citing a protocol to conclude investigations of Congress members after their departure. Gaetz announced his resignation shortly after Trump named him as a nominee for Attorney General last week, just two days ahead of the ethics committee’s planned vote on whether to release the report.

The Senate Judiciary Committee, which will be reviewing Gaetz’s nomination, has the authority to summon the report. Some Senate Republicans have expressed interest in accessing the report and anticipate that its details will eventually be disclosed.

Despite the complications facing his confirmation, Trump has reaffirmed his support for Gaetz’s nomination. “No,” Trump responded to inquiries about whether he was reconsidering the nomination.

Trump’s choice of Gaetz, known for his staunch MAGA support, has created a stir in Washington, surprising both Democratic and Republican circles. Although he is a commercial lawyer, Gaetz lacks any prosecutorial experience. He has regularly criticized the Justice Department while serving on the House Judiciary Committee, alleging that Attorney General Merrick Garland has misused the department to prosecute Trump.

Democratic Rep. Sean Casten introduced a resolution on Wednesday that would compel the House Ethics Committee to disclose its report if passed. The House has a timeframe of two legislative days to process the resolution, suggesting a vote could happen on Thursday or shortly after the Thanksgiving holiday.

“We hope that the Ethics Committee fulfills its responsibilities and publishes the report prior to then, so we do not have to address this upon our return,” Casten commented.

Vice President-elect JD Vance has been facilitating Gaetz’s interactions with members of the Senate this week. Gaetz has also been actively reaching out to senators to garner support for his confirmation.

The Trump transition team has not responded promptly to a request for comments from YSL News.

Alex Pfeiffer, a spokesperson for Trump’s transition team, stated to ABC News: “The Justice Department had comprehensive access to nearly all of Matt Gaetz’s financial dealings and determined that he committed no offense. These leaks are meant to obstruct the public mandate for reforming the Justice Department.”