Political nepo baby Matt Gaetz rose quickly to power in the House. It ended with a damning ethics report

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. Read our privacy policy There is “substantial evidence” that former congressman Matt Gaetz “regularly” paid women, including a high school student, for sex and spent tens of thousands of dollars on sex- and drug-fueled parties and travel, according to a damning report from members of Congress. Alongside Trump cheerleader Marjorie Taylor Greene, Gaetz embarked on a nationwide “America First Tour” in 2021, in which the pair repeated debunked claims of voter fraud in the 2020 election and attacked Trump’s critics. open image in gallery Along with fellow Trump cheerleader Marjorie Taylor Greene, Gaetz embarked on a nationwide ‘America First Tour’ in 2021 Such devotion earned nicknames such as the “Trumpiest Congressman in Trump’s Washington” by GQ magazine and “the Trumpiest Congressman” by Rolling Stone, which he reportedly considers “badges of honor.” He spearheaded the push to oust former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, who was among a handful of GOP figures who taunted Gaetz over the allegations against him. Trump’s DOJ must be in place and ready on Day 1,” he wrote in a post on X. open image in gallery The former Congressman’s wife, Ginger Gaetz, has supported him despite the barrage of allegations against him Gaetz’s wife Ginger Gaetz called his decision “the end of an era,” and wrote that “no one loves America more than this guy.” On December 18, as news emerged that the House Ethics committee had secretly voted to release its report, Gaetz admitted to have “probably partied, womanized, drank and smoked more than I should have earlier in life” as he blasted the committee’s decision.