Matt Gaetz's private note from Donald Trump revealed after damning ethics report release

It is possible for Matt Gaetz to still face criminal charges, as there don't appear to be statute of limitations issues for the relevant charges,

Perlstein said

It's possible, but not likely that Gaetz faces criminal charges. We've seen indictments result from a Congressional investigation recently, that being the January 6 committee,

he told Newsweek

If we see criminal charges, the most serious would be sex with minors. Not knowing the minor was underage is not a defense,

he said

Given the affiliations of those in leadership—Trump's influence over the federal level and Ron DeSantis at the state level—it seems unlikely that charges would ever be pursued,

he said

Giving funds to someone you are dating - that they didn't ask for - and that isn't 'charged' for sex is now prostitution?!? There is a reason they did this to me in a Christmas Eve-Eve report and not in a courtroom of any kind where I could present evidence and challenge witnesses."

He said

I am a little baffled by Matt Gaetz's continued insistence that it's normal to just send cash to women you're casually dating."

In a post on X, Yale Review editor James Surowiecki said

Summary of the Matt Gaetz ethics report. This is what happens when you have no moral standards for those you elect. You get complete trash walking the halls of Congress who abuse their offices to have sex with little girls. Thanks, MAGA."

Heath Mayo, a lawyer and self-styled conservative Christian, posted

Sex trafficking, sex trafficking of a minor, statutory rape, cocaine/ecstasy use, bribery, abuse of his office, obstruction of justice. Federal prosecutors knew ALL this about Matt Gaetz. And yet they didn't charge him with anything — they let him walk."

Lawyer Tristan Snell posted

Matt Gaetzrepresentative

House Probe Into Matt Gaetz Relies On Witness DOJ Found Lacked Credibility."

Trump's note to Gaetz was written on what appeared to be a printed copy of an article by The Federalist editor-in-chief Mollie Hemingway, titled

I got a great note from President Trump."

Gaetz added

Indeed, nearly every woman that the committee spoke with could not remember the details of at least one or more of the events they attended with Representative Gaetz and attributed that to drug or alcohol consumption,

the report said

Btw Matt also mentioned he is going to be a bit generous cause of the 'customer appreciation' thing last time."

A few months later, according to the committee, she wrote

From 2017 to 2020, Representative Gaetz made tens of thousands of dollars in payments to women that the Committee determined were likely in connection with sexual activity and/or drug use.

The bipartisan report, released on Monday, said

My friend Steve Bannon and others have suggested that I return to the House of Representatives on January 3rd,

Gaetz added

I think maybe he may run for governor. I'm not exactly sure if DeSantis would appoint him to the Senate, I think the governor is probably eyeing a couple of other individuals."

Republican strategist Shermichael Singleton, on CNN

He has a 'get out of jail free' card... as long as a person in the White House is a person who's a friend of his, there will be no federal prosecution, much less any charges."

Lawyer and legal analyst Joey Jackson, during a CNN appearance on Monday

Steve Bannonformer White House strategist

I'm strongly urging Matt Gaetz to return to Congress, and on its first day next year, take a page from that old song, 'The Harper Valley PTA,' and expose all the hypocrites in the House [of Representatives] who have used tax money to cover up their sexual depravity,

Bannon said on his podcast

The House Ethics Committee's thorough investigation and detailed findings vindicate my clients' accounts and demonstrate their credibility. We appreciate the Committee's commitment to transparency in releasing this comprehensive report so the truth can be known."

Joel Leppard, an attorney representing women who testified about Gaetz's conduct, said in a statement

It seems I may not have had enough support in the United States Senate. Maybe I'll just run for Marco Rubio's vacant seat in the United States Senate and join some of those folks."

Gaetz floated the idea of running for Senate at a Turning Point event on Sunday

Screw their rules. Screw them. They have destroyed this country and Gaetz has to come back."

He also said of Congress