The American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) responded to allegations by former Congressman Matt Gaetz that donors could make donations at a “reception” by scanning a QR code on someone’s name badge. “That Is So Freaking Weird” – Matt Gaetz Describes Experience Where He Says Donors Could Scan Name Badge With QR Code At “AIPAC Reception” "The accusation about our fundraisers is, of course, a lie. Barcodes are on name badges for security reasons, not fundraising, and are scanned for that purpose. Maybe @mattgaetz was confused because he wanted people to scan his barcode, and they didn’t even want to talk to him," AIPAC wrote. The accusation about our fundraisers is, of course, a lie. Barcodes are on name badges for security reasons, not fundraising, and are scanned for that purpose. Maybe @mattgaetz was confused because he wanted people to scan his barcode, and they didn’t even want to talk to him. https://t.co/cXQkBCLMVK — AIPAC ????? (@AIPAC) October 8, 2025 "Are you actually denying that donors scanned people’s name tags to get their donation information? And, actually, I prefer when nobody talks to me. More time for hummus," Gaetz responded. Are you actually denying that donors scanned people’s name tags to get their donation information? And, actually, I prefer when nobody talks to me. More time for hummus. https://t.co/yDunCnRWA3 — Matt Gaetz (@mattgaetz) October 9, 2025 The former Florida representative noted that AIPAC "admits to using barcodes." BREAKING: @AIPAC admits to using barcodes pic.twitter.com/Eu3HvQAlhU — Former Congressman Matt Gaetz (@FmrRepMattGaetz) October 9, 2025 “You get there and you wear this name badge. And I remember there’s a QR code on it,” Gaetz explained. “And what you’re supposed to do was go talk to donors and then if they liked you, they scanned your QR code to make a donation on the spot,” he continued. “Can you just imagine how demoralizing that is? To be told that your job for the next several hours is to go chat people up, hoping they would scan you like a can of tomato soup on the way out of the meeting,” he added. “That is so freaking weird,” Gaetz emphasized. Gaetz also shared a story in which he alleged someone was “rooting around” in his room while in Israel. Watch the footage shared by Timcast News: “At my first AIPAC reception, you had to wear a name badge with a QR code, talk to donors, and if they liked you, they scanned it to donate on the spot.”@mattgaetz on the surreal, humiliating world of AIPAC fundraisers. pic.twitter.com/bIIbLx9wMZ — Timcast News (@TimcastNews) October 8, 2025 "I wouldn’t know what happens at an AIPAC reception, because I’ve never been to one, but Matt Gaetz told me this story in person several years ago," the campaign account of Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY) said. I wouldn’t know what happens at an AIPAC reception, because I’ve never been to one, but Matt Gaetz told me this story in person several years ago. https://t.co/ka9AaFTuR3 — Thomas Massie for Congress (@MassieforKY) October 9, 2025 "It was a lie then and is a lie now," AIPAC commented. It was a lie then and is a lie now. https://t.co/rc6da9ieUZ — AIPAC (@AIPAC) October 9, 2025 Gaetz said the story about someone rummaging through his room while visiting Israel "absolutely happened." “There is an actual downward pressure from the leadership and even the committee chairs — like if you’re on the Foreign Affairs Committee, if you’re on the Armed Services Committee, if you’re on the Intelligence Committee — there’s like an expectation that you go there [to Israel] in some sort of congressional hodge,” Gaetz said on "The Anchormen" podcast. “I rolled back to my room unexpectedly when the rest of the group was still on some planned activity. There’s a dude in my room. I’m like, ‘Hey man, what are you doing here?’ He acted like he was associated with the hotel, taking an inventory but had no clipboard,” he continued. Footage below: Matt Gaetz reveals that while on an AIPAC trip as a member of Congress, he found an “AIPAC guy” inside his hotel room. He says the AIPAC representative tried to pretend he was a hotel employee. Gaetz explains there is massive pressure on members of Congress to frequently visit… pic.twitter.com/yZeYZvNcqY — Shadow of Ezra (@ShadowofEzra) August 8, 2025 Denver Gazette reported in August: “This absolutely happened. I explained these events to my family in case something went awry with me,” Gaetz said. “I reported this to my committee leadership at the time and was told it was ‘regular’ and I should never leave anything meaningful in my hotel room abroad as a member of Congress,” the former congressman said. AIPAC spokesman Marshall Wittman denied Gaetz’s story in a statement to the Washington Examiner. “This is a preposterously false allegation in a pathetic attempt to smear patriotic Americans who are engaged in the democratic process to strengthen our relationship with a strong and reliable ally, Israel,” Wittman said. “We will not be deterred by extremists, of the Right or the Left, in our efforts which are consistent with American interests and values,” he added.