Joseph Zambon
Voted to Hide Gaetz’ Secrets
Western New York Representative Nicholas Langworthy (R-NY23), representing the Southern Tier and Western New York, and Representative Claudia Tenney (R-NY24), representing counties around Lake Ontario, voted a couple of weeks ago against releasing the House Ethics Committee report on Florida Congressman Matt Gaetz. They, along with their Republican House colleagues, voted to refer the matter back to the House Ethics Committee, where they hoped it would remain a secret from the public. But they were wrong.
Gaetz’s Secret Exposed
This week, the House Ethics Committee voted to release the committee report (6-2). Four Democrats and two Republicans voted to release it, and two Republicans voted to keep it secret. The full report can be accessed by clicking this link.
The vote came days after Speaker Mike Johnson attempted to interfere with the supposedly independent bipartisan Ethics Committee. Johnson opined that since Gaetz had resigned from office—just before the report was to be released—and was now a private citizen, the report should not be released. Johnson and the Republicans ignored the fact that Trump had nominated Gaetz for Attorney General, the highest law enforcement officer in the nation. The irony of this will become apparent.
What Secrets Were Langworthy and Tenney and the Republicans Trying to Hide?
What came out of the Ethics Committee was worse than imagined. The Republicans were trying to hide “substantial evidence“ of Gaetz’s statutory rape of a 17-year-old girl, drug use, accepting gifts, assisting a sexual partner in obtaining a passport, and obstructing the investigation.
The House Ethics Committee summarized the results of its multi-year investigation in the released report. “In sum, the Committee found substantial evidence of the following:
From at least 2017 to 2020, Representative Gaetz regularly paid women for engaging in sexual activity with him.
In 2017, Representative Gaetz engaged in sexual activity with a 17-year-old girl.
During the period 2017 to 2019, Representative Gaetz used or possessed illegal drugs, including cocaine and ecstasy, on multiple occasions.
Representative Gaetz accepted gifts, including transportation and lodging in connection with a 2018 trip to the Bahamas, in excess of permissible amounts.
In 2018, Representative Gaetz arranged for his Chief of Staff to assist a woman with whom he engaged in sexual activity in obtaining a passport, falsely indicating to the U.S. Department of State that she was a constituent
Representative Gaetz knowingly and willfully sought to impede and obstruct the Committee’s investigation of his conduct.
Representative Gaetz has acted in a manner that reflects discreditably upon the House.
CONCLUSION. 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.”
Kept Secret From Voters, But Not From House Republicans
Despite knowing about the “substantial evidence” of statutory rape, drug use, obstruction of justice, and other potential crimes, House Republicans chose to keep Matt Gaetz’s actions hidden from the public. In doing so, they colluded—one of Trump’s favorite terms—to deceive the electorate and perpetuate a fraud.
Gaetz ran for re-election in Florida in 2024, securing 66% of the vote against a weak Democratic opponent. This victory came even after campaign ads, orchestrated by Gaetz’s political enemy, former Speaker Kevin McCarthy, exposed allegations of his involvement in the statutory rape of a 17-year-old girl.
Gaetz should face criminal charges for these accusations, but that outcome seems increasingly unlikely. The Republican establishment is clearly invested in making this issue disappear. Despite his previous threats to expose the sexual misconduct of other members of Congress if the Ethics Committee report was made public, Gaetz has not followed through. The report was released, but Gaetz remained silent. He seems content to let the controversy fade into the background so he can continue his political career without the stain of his past.
Ironically, despite the overwhelming evidence of his crimes—some of which Gaetz himself has admitted to as “youthful indiscretions”—he has continued to receive support from his party. Even knowing the Ethics Committee Report’s contents, Donald Trump nominated Gaetz for Attorney General.
The most charitable interpretation is that, as Attorney General, Gaetz would have an intimate understanding of the criminal justice system—though whether that’s a positive trait is highly debatable.
Gaetz, Trump, and Hegseth: Accusations of Sexual Misconduct
Rep. Matt Gaetz, former President Donald Trump, and Peter Hegseth have all faced serious accusations of sexual misconduct.
Trump’s case stands out for its legal outcome. He was found liable in a civil proceeding and ordered to pay $83.3 million in damages to E. Jean Carroll. Judge Lewis Kaplan, who presided over the case, concluded that the evidence supported the claim that Trump “raped” Carroll in the commonly understood sense of the word.
Peter Hegseth, the former Fox News host nominated for Secretary of Defense, was accused by a female staffer of the California Federation of Republican Women of sexually assaulting her in a hotel room after an event. Hegseth reportedly paid the woman off through a non-disclosure agreement. He has also been open about his struggles with alcohol, promising to quit drinking if confirmed for the Defense position — a vow that seems doubtful to many.
Gaetz’s Defenders: Langworthy and Tenney
Rep. Nick Langworthy and Rep. Claudia Tenney have shielded Gaetz from accountability. Through their votes, both have tried to suppress a report from the House Ethics Committee that would have exposed Gaetz’s misconduct. Had this effort been successful, it would have allowed Gaetz to continue pursuing public office while avoiding scrutiny of his behavior, including accusations of abusing underage girls.
This is part of a broader pattern of questionable actions by Langworthy and Tenney.
During his re-election debate, Langworthy claimed ignorance of the Heritage Foundation’s Project 2025, a key campaign issue. Trump was also asked about Project 2025 numerous times and also claimed ignorance. As a sitting congressman and former head of the New York State Republican Party, Langworthy’s debate response. “I am unfamiliar with Project 2025” drew skepticism from many.
Tenney has admitted to secretly recording conversations with her Republican primary opponent, a breach of trust, if not law, that raises questions about her ethics. Additionally, the Buffalo News criticized Tenney for her controversial social media posts mocking the near-fatal assault on Paul Pelosi, calling her actions indicative of a “broken moral compass.”
In both cases, their actions — or lack thereof — reflect a disturbing disregard for accountability, transparency, and human decency.