Matt Gaetz rents office space from donor, former client despite House rules

Republican Rep. Matt Gaetz has been renting office space, with taxpayer money, from a longtime friend, donor and former legal client, despite House of Representatives rules against such practices, Politico reported Friday.

Gaetz and Florida real estate developer Collier Merrill both told Politico in interviews that the property is being rented below a market rate, but Gaetz later tweeted it is "at or below market rate." The congressman has paid nearly $200,000 for the space since taking office in 2017.

House rules state that members must certify they are not "relatives nor have had, or continue to have, a professional or legal relationship (except as a landlord and tenant)." Under the rules, the lease agreement must also be at a fair market value

https://www.pnj.com/story/news/2020/04/17/matt-gaetz-rents-office-space-friend-donor-collier-merrill-report/5151217002/