The House Ethics Committee provided an update on its investigation into Rep. Matt Gaetz, revealing that the review now includes allegations of sexual misconduct, drug use, improper gifts, and obstruction of government investigations. The committee stated that they were no longer looking into four other allegations, including sharing inappropriate images with colleagues and accepting bribes. Gaetz has denied all accusations and claimed that the investigations are based on lies aimed at smearing his reputation. He criticized the committee for focusing on new probes instead of working with him on banning Congressional stock trading.
Gaetz, who led the effort to remove then-Speaker Kevin McCarthy from his position last fall, has faced backlash from many House Republicans who view his actions as selfish and damaging to the party. Gaetz blamed McCarthy for the Ethics Committee’s review, accusing him of cooperating with the investigation to undermine his reputation. Despite the investigation beginning before Republicans took the majority in the House, Gaetz believes that McCarthy played a role in the scrutiny he is facing. He remains confident that his exoneration will be the outcome of every investigation into his conduct.
The ethics committee initiated its review of Gaetz in April 2021, paused the investigation at the request of the Justice Department, and resumed its work in May of last year after the DOJ dropped its request. This came shortly after Gaetz announced that the Justice Department had ended a sex trafficking investigation against him without bringing any charges. The committee has faced challenges in obtaining relevant information from Gaetz and other individuals involved but has conducted interviews with over a dozen witnesses, issued 25 subpoenas, and reviewed thousands of pages of documents.
One aspect of the investigation focuses on whether Gaetz provided special privileges and favors to individuals with whom he had personal relationships. The committee clarified that the existence of an investigation does not automatically indicate a violation of law or House rules. They emphasized that no further comments will be made on the matter at this time. Gaetz has remained defiant in the face of the investigation, maintaining his innocence and insisting that the allegations against him are unfounded attempts to tarnish his reputation. Despite the ongoing scrutiny, Gaetz continues to represent his constituents in Northwest Florida, unwavering in his belief in their support for him regardless of the investigations.
