The Republican attempts to distance himself from Gaetz also provide him with a lifeline within the GOP conference, as he currently appears safe from retaliation within the party unless formal charges are brought.
“Right now it’s hard to speculate on rumors, but if something really formal happens from Justice, we would of course respond and take action,” House Minority Whip Steve Scalise, a Louisiana Republican, told reporters on Wednesday when asked whether he had faith in Gaetz. .
For Republicans, the accusations surrounding Gaetz are a major distraction as they try to force the Biden administration to suppress the record number of unaccompanied minors at the border and the president’s plans for a massive infrastructure package. Since Gaetz has built little goodwill with his colleagues, few are eager to defend him, even though he denies the allegations against him. CNN spoke to more than a dozen GOP lawmakers, who largely tried to avoid getting into the charges, while noting that Gaetz has few friends in the conference who are willing to defend him.
“He’s not a team player,” said a senior House GOP member, who asked for anonymity to speak candidly about a colleague. “He’s not one to contribute to the caucus. Most of us don’t really know him. If he did and gets charged, so what? A new Republican will replace him in that district and probably become a better member of Congress. ”
Gaetz returned to Washington on Tuesday when House returned to session after a two-week hiatus. Leaving and entering the Capitol for votes, he would not address the allegations Tuesday, but instead attack CNN in response to its questions about the Justice Department investigation.
Gaetz declined to comment again on Wednesday as he shuttled between committee hearings.
Two GOP sources say Gaetz did not attend the weekly House Republican Conference meeting Wednesday morning – and there was no discussion of his behavior. It’s the latest sign of House Republicans keeping their distance from Gaetz amid the swirling allegations.
During the House’s long ballot on Wednesday, Gaetz was quietly chatting on the House floor with a handful of his GOP allies.
After getting to the vote as it began, Gaetz sat alone for a while until a fellow ardent defender of former President Donald Trump sat next to him: Jody Hice of Georgia. Minutes later, Tennessee GOP Rep. Tim Burchett sit next to him on the other side. Burchett had greeted Gaetz with a punch before.
A handful of other conservatives came to greet him, including Scott Perry, a Pennsylvania Republican who had joined Trump and Gaetz in an attempt to reverse the election results. Perry punched Gaetz, too. Rep. Mike Kelly, another Pennsylvania Republican who had tried to throw away the election results, also greeted Gaetz.
Gaetz later went down and went back and forth with Texas Rep. Pete Sessions. Rep. Claudia Tenney from New York was also seen speaking to them. Gaetz had what appeared to be an animated conversation with Rep. Jim Jordan of Ohio, the Supreme Judicial Committee Republican and another Trump ally.
GOP leaders remain silent about Gaetz
When the investigation was first revealed two weeks ago, House Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy said the allegations were serious and he intended to talk to Gaetz about the matter. The California Republican did not respond to questions from CNN on Tuesday evening about whether he had spoken to Gaetz, and it is unclear whether that conversation has already taken place.
Scalise told reporters on Wednesday that he had not yet spoken to Gaetz, but also intended to do so.
“Look, I haven’t talked to him to get his explanation of what is claimed, serious things are being claimed, of course we want to know the facts,” he said.
If Gaetz is charged, he would be removed from his committees, which happened when former GOP representatives Chris Collins of New York and Duncan Hunter of California were charged with insider information and campaign finance charges respectively. Collins and Hunter each won reelection while being charged before resigning after pleading guilty to the charges against them. Both were pardoned by Trump.
But most Republicans would rather just avoid the topic.
“Isn’t he from Florida? I’m from Colorado,” said GOP representative Lauren Boebert in response to questions about Gaetz.
“I honestly have nothing to say about it,” Ohio Representative Anthony Gonzalez, one of the 10 House Republicans who voted to oust Trump in January, told CNN.
“If true, Congress will be the least of his concerns,” added Gonzalez, saying the Justice Department investigation should take place.
Representative Jeff Van Drew, a Republican from New Jersey, said of the investigation, “If the allegations turn out to be true, by a court or by any means, then I think that’s unacceptable.”
‘We have to go through the investigation. Everyone always deserves their day in court, right? ‘ Van Drew added.
Jordan, the highest-ranking Republican on the House Judiciary Committee, is one of the few Republicans who has publicly defended Gaetz. He told CNN on Tuesday that he still stands behind the Florida congressman.
“Yeah,” Jordan said when asked if he still believes Gaetz. “I have never called on people to resign; I have never called on people to be kicked out of committees.”
Gaetz’s home state senators, Republicans Rick Scott and Marco Rubio, have also avoided commenting on the allegations, saying they will wait to see what comes out of the Justice Department investigation.
‘I’ve read about it, but I’ve read what people are reporting, I’ve read what he’s being denied. How can anyone have an opinion on something I don’t know firsthand about? ‘ Rubio said.
Two Republicans facing potentially grueling reelection races, Representatives David Valadao of California and Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania, have taken steps to distance themselves from Gaetz by returning or donating his campaign contributions to them.
“I returned the money,” Fitzpatrick told CNN when asked if Gaetz should resign. “I’m a career FBI agent. Let the process continue. ‘
This story was updated on Wednesday with additional developments.
CNN’s Daniella Diaz and Ryan Nobles contributed to this report.