Gaetz accused of sending $10k to women via Venmo and PayPal with memos like ‘being awesome’ and ‘being my friend’

Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. open image in gallery House Ethics Committee records appear to show Venmo transactions from Matt Gaetz to two women he is accused of paying for sex Gaetz abruptly resigned from the House last week after president-elect Donald Trump nominated the far-right firebrand for the next attorney general. open image in gallery The records included notes and emojis alongside the cash sums Another “travel” transaction in early January 2019 appears to sync with Gaetz’s alleged arrangements for both women to fly to New York for sex and to accompany him to an appearance on Fox News, according to the women’s attorney Joel Leppard. In 2021, Gaetz said during an interview that he believes “someone is trying to recategorize my generosity to ex-girlfriends as something more untoward.” “The Justice Department received access to roughly every financial transaction Matt Gaetz ever undertook and came to the conclusion that he committed no crime,” Trump transition spokesperson Alex Pfeiffer told ABC News. “These leaks are meant to undermine the mandate from the people to reform the Justice Department.” open image in gallery Gaetz has denied the allegations against him According to a lawyer representing the women, one of his clients testified that she witnessed Gaetz having sex with a girl when she was 17 years old.