The House Ethics Committee announced Friday that it has opened an investigation into Republican Congressman Matt Gaetz. The investigation comes after several sources told CBS News that federal investigators are investigating whether the Florida man violated sex trafficking laws.
Several sources told CBS News’ federal investigators investigates a Bahamas trip that Gaetz allegedly undertook late 2018 or early 2019 as part of their query. Gaetz also faces allegations that he had an inappropriate sexual relationship with a 17-year-old girl and paid to travel with him, which he denied.
The committee is aware of public allegations that Representative Matt Gaetz may have had sexual misconduct and / or illegal drug use, shared inappropriate images or videos on the house floor, misused state identification, converted campaign funds for personal use and / or bribes, improper gratuity or have accepted an inadmissible gift, in violation of House Rules, laws or other standards, ”the committee said Friday.
Gaetz’s office responded to news of the investigation on Friday.
“The office will repeat this once again. These allegations are blatantly false and have not been confirmed by a single person willing to put their name behind them,” his office said.
Gaetz’s office said in a statement to CBS News on Wednesday that he had “never paid for sex and had never had sex with a minor girl.”
“What started with screaming headlines about ‘sex trafficking’ has now turned into a general fishing exercise over holidays and adult permissions,” Gaetz’s office added. “Yesterday we even heard about a silly ‘forgiveness’ story that turns out to be false, and today it’s just more euphemism. It’s interesting to see how the Washington wheels grind so hard when one of their fakes is flattened. . “
The Democratic House ethics committee also announced Friday that it will launch an investigation into Republican Congressman Tom Reed, who is facing an allegation of sexual misconduct. New York’s Reed has already announced that he will not run again in 2022, and has apologized for allegations by a former lobbyist against sexual misconduct.
“The committee takes note of the mere fact that it is investigating these allegations and disclosing their review, does not itself indicate that any violation has taken place, or reflects any ruling on behalf of the committee,” the committee said in announcing both investigations. “No other public comment will be made on this in accordance with the committee’s rules.”
Reed did not immediately respond to CBS News’ request for comment on the investigation.
Gaetz, who refuses to resign, did so in advance then asked President Trump for a blanket pardon before the former president left office, according to two sources who know the situation. Mr. Trump said in a statement that Gaetz did not apologize to him, but the real estate tycoon did not specifically address the question of whether Gaetz had apologized to anyone else in the White House. Gaetz was 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