The House Ethics Committee announced on Friday that it has opened an investigation into Republican Congressman Matt Gaetz. The investigation comes after multiple sources told CBS News that federal investigators are investigating whether the Florida man violated sex trafficking laws.
Multiple sources have told CBS News federal investigators investigate a trip to the Bahamas that Gaetz is said to have made late 2018 or early 2019 as part of their research. Gaetz is also facing allegations that he had an improper sexual relationship with a 17-year-old girl and paid to travel with him, which he has denied.
The committee is aware of public allegations that Representative Matt Gaetz may have been guilty of sexual misconduct and / or illegal drug use, shared inappropriate images or videos on the House floor, abused state identification records, turned campaign funds into personal use and / or accepted bribes, inappropriate gratuities or illicit gifts, in violation of house rules, laws or other standards, ”the committee said Friday.
Gaetz’s office responded to news of the probe on Friday.
Again, the office will reiterate that these allegations are downright false and have not been validated by any single person willing to leave their name behind, his office said.
In a statement to CBS News on Wednesday, Gaetz’s office said he “never paid for sex, nor did he have sex with an underage girl.”
“What started with screaming headlines about ‘sex trafficking’ has now grown into a general fishing exercise about holidays and consensual relationships with adults,” added Gaetz’s office. “Yesterday we even heard of some nonsense ‘pardon’ story that turned out to be false, and today it’s just more euphemism. It’s interesting to see the Washington wheels grind so hard every time one of their falsehoods is overthrown. “
The Democratic House ethics committee also announced on Friday that it is opening an investigation into Republican Congressman Tom Reed, who is accused of sexual misconduct. New York-based Reed has already announced that he will not run for re-election in 2022, and apologized after allegations of sexual misconduct made against him by a former lobbyist.
“The committee notes that the mere fact that it is investigating these allegations and making its assessment public does not in itself indicate that any violation has occurred, or is making a judgment on behalf of the committee,” said the committee announcing both investigations. “No other public comment will be made on this matter in accordance with the rules of the committee.”
Reed did not immediately respond to CBS News’ request for comment on the investigations.
Gaetz, who refuses to resign, did so preventively ask then-President Trump for a general pardon before the ex-president left office, according to two sources familiar with the situation. Mr. Trump said in a statement that Gaetz had not asked for a pardon, but the real estate magnate did not specifically address whether Gaetz had asked for a pardon from anyone else in the White House. Gaetz has been one of Mr Trump’s most outspoken allies.
– Sara Cook, Nicole Sganga, Rebecca Kaplan, Major Garrett, Michael Kaplan, Clare Hymes and Jessica Kegu contributed to this report