'Embarrassing, not criminal': Matt Gaetz defends himself ahead of ethics report release

Former Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) defended himself after news broke that the House Ethics Committee would be releasing its report into his allegedly nefarious activities.

Writing on X, the former Donald Trump attorney general nominee copped to some immoral past behavior but insisted that he did nothing illegal and that he didn't pay an underage girl for sex.

"In my single days, I often sent funds to women I dated -- even some I never dated but who asked," he wrote. "I dated several of these women for years. I NEVER had sexual contact with someone under 18. Any claim that I have would be destroyed in court - which is why no such claim was ever made in court. My 30’s were an era of working very hard -- and playing hard too."

Gaetz added that "it’s embarrassing, though not criminal, that I probably partied, womanized, drank and smoked more than I should have earlier in life" and insisted that "I live a different life now."

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He also took a shot at members of the House Ethics Committee for releasing the report.

"The Biden/Garland DOJ spent years reviewing allegations that I committed various crimes," he argued. "I was charged with nothing: FULLY EXONERATED. Not even a campaign finance violation. And the people investigating me hated me. Then, the very 'witnesses' DOJ deemed not-credible were assembled by House Ethics to repeat their claims absent any cross-examination or challenge from me or my attorneys. I’ve had no chance to ever confront any accusers. I’ve never been charged. I’ve never been sued."