The House Ethics Committee released its bombshell report on former Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) -- who had been Donald Trump's first choice to serve as attorney general in the new administration.

Gaetz resigned from Congress after receiving the nomination, but quickly took himself out of AG contention after controversy piled up over his alleged drug use and sexual proclivities. Gaetz announced Monday that he was filing a restraining order to keep the report from being released, but to no avail.

In the just-released report, the Ethics Committee wrote:

"The Committee has typically not released its findings after losing jurisdiction in a matter. However, there are a few prior instances where the Committee has determined that it was in the public interest to release its findings even after a Member's resignation from Congress. The Committee does not do so lightly. In this instance, although several Committee Members objected, a majority of the Members of the Committee agreed that the Committee's findings should be released to the public."

The report continued:

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.

Based on the above, the Committee concluded there was substantial evidence that Representative

Gaetz violated House Rules, state and federal laws, and other standards of conduct prohibiting

prostitution, statutory rape, illicit drug use, acceptance of impermissible gifts, the provision of

special favors and privileges, and obstruction of Congress.