The House Ethics Committee announced Friday that it is beginning its own probe into Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) following allegations of sexual misconduct. Gaetz has denied the allegations and hired a legal team to fight the charges.
“The Committee notes that the mere fact that it is investigating these allegations, and publicly disclosing its review, does not itself indicate that any violation has occurred, or reflect any judgment on behalf of the Committee,” the statement added.
A subsequent NY Times report alleged Gaetz and his friend, former Florida county tax collector Joel Greenberg, paid women who were recruited for sex online and may have involved illegal drugs as well.
Gaetz has been one of former President Donald Trump’s strongest allies and an advocate for the America First agenda, calling for Republicans like Rep. Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.) to give up her leadership role in the party after she voted to impeach Trump for the Jan. 6 breach on the Capitol.
The second-term Florida congressman denies all the allegations and says he and his family are being targeted for extortion.
“The planted leak to The New York Times tonight was intended to thwart that investigation. No part of the allegations against me are true, and the people pushing these lies are targets of the ongoing extortion investigation. I demand the DOJ immediately release the tapes, made at their direction, which implicate their former colleague in crimes against me based on false allegations,” Gaetz added.
His female staff members penned a letter this week supporting the congressman and vouching for his professionalism and honesty, saying there was “no hint of impropriety” witnessed by them.