On Wednesday, former Rep. Matt Gaetz admitted that during his younger years, he often sent money to his girlfriends and acknowledged he partook in excessive partying, drinking, and smoking.

Gaetz, who was the initial pick for U.S. attorney general by President-elect Donald Trump, shared these thoughts on social media just after news outlets revealed that the House Ethics Committee would soon release a report from a lengthy investigation concerning allegations of sexual misconduct and drug use involving him.

“In my single days, I frequently sent funds to women I dated—even some I never dated who asked,” Gaetz stated. “I was in relationships with several of these women for years. I NEVER engaged in sexual activity with anyone under 18. Any claim to that effect would be easily disproven in court—which is why no such claims have ever been made in court.”

“My 30’s were a time of hard work and hard partying,” Gaetz, now 42, mentioned. “While it’s embarrassing, it’s not illegal that I probably engaged in more partying, womanizing, drinking, and smoking than was appropriate during my youth. I’m living a different lifestyle now.”

YSL News has contacted Gaetz for further comments.

Allegations of sex parties and financial transactions

Previously, the Justice Department looked into Gaetz for potential sex trafficking but concluded the investigation without filing any charges, his lawyers informed YSL News in February 2023. In his recent post on X, Gaetz claimed he has been completely cleared of all allegations.

Federal investigators uncovered a series of payments linking Gaetz to “numerous friends and associates” said to have participated in drug-fueled sex parties, as reported by The New York Times.

According to The Times, two women who received payments from Gaetz testified that he hired them for sexual services, with the total payments amounting to roughly $10,000.

Last month, reports from The Washington Post and ABC News indicated that a witness told the committee they saw Gaetz engaging in sexual acts with a 17-year-old. These claims remain unverified by YSL News.

House Ethics Committee dealt with ambiguous payment reports

Gaetz stepped down from Congress following Trump’s selection of him as the next U.S. attorney general, and this occurred before the House Ethics Committee completed its investigative report. Following his resignation, House Republicans obstructed the release of that report. Subsequently, Gaetz withdrew his name from consideration and opted not to seek re-election.

“I’ve never had the chance to confront my accusers,” he expressed Wednesday on X. “I have never been charged or sued. Instead, the House Ethics Committee is likely to publish a report online that I won’t have the opportunity to dispute as a former member of Congress.”

In September, Gaetz penned a letter to the House Ethics Committee denouncing the investigation, asserting he would “no longer voluntarily take part in this unfortunate misuse of the committee’s purpose.”

As of Wednesday, the extent of the details to be released by the House regarding the report and its documentation remains unclear, including whether any sections will be redacted.

The New York Times initially reported on the existence of the federal investigation into Gaetz’s behavior in 2021.