Former Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) has filed a lawsuit against the House Ethics Committee in a last-ditch effort to prevent the release of a report detailing serious allegations against him, including accusations of having sex with a minor and engaging in a broader pattern of paying women for sex. The lawsuit was filed in federal court just as the panel is set to unveil its findings (The Hill).

The House Ethics Committee's report, which emerged after years of investigation, asserts that there is "substantial evidence" to support claims that Gaetz violated multiple Florida state laws. According to the report, he allegedly engaged in arrangements amounting to prostitution and statutory rape, along with illicit drug use (ABC News).

Specifically, Gaetz reportedly paid over $100,000 to multiple women for sexual activities, including making a payment of $400 to a 17-year-old girl in 2017, whom he had sex with during a drug-fueled party. Testimonies indicated the payments were understood by some as transactional and that the woman did not disclose her age during their encounter (AP News).

In Gaetz’s defense, he has claimed throughout the investigation that he never engaged in illegal activity and has insisted he didn't know the girl was underage. He described the committee's findings as a "frivolous" attack and criticized the Ethics Committee for perceiving his financial transactions with women as prostitution (Vox).

The Ethics Committee's investigation included over 14,000 documents and approximately two dozen witness interviews. While the committee concluded that Gaetz did not violate federal sex trafficking laws, it substantiated claims of illicit activities and obstructive behavior during the investigation. Gaetz allegedly failed to comply with subpoenas and refused to provide requested documentation, which the committee cited as obstruction of Congress (ABC News).

In the wake of the report's findings, Gaetz filed his lawsuit, arguing that the committee exceeded its authority following his resignation. He contended that the committee lacks jurisdiction over him and expressed that the report contained "untruthful and defamatory information" potentially harming his reputation (The Hill).

The release of the Ethics Committee's report has raised questions about potential legal consequences for Gaetz, even as the Department of Justice previously declined to press charges. However, experts suggest this report could lead to further investigations by local law enforcement based on the documented allegations (Vox).