Ethics probe into Matt Gaetz reviewing allegations of sexual misconduct, illicit drug use

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Home Ethics Committee on Tuesday gave an uncommon public replace into its long-running investigation of Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., saying its assessment now contains whether or not Gaetz engaged in sexual misconduct and illicit drug use, accepted improper presents and sought to impede authorities investigations of his conduct.

The committee additionally introduced that it was now not reviewing 4 different allegations involving the congressman, together with that he shared inappropriate photographs or movies with colleagues on the Home flooring or that he accepted a bribe or transformed marketing campaign funds to private use.

Gaetz has categorically denied all of the allegations earlier than the committee.

In a tweet Monday pre-empting the committee’s announcement, Gaetz famous that the ethics panel closed 4 probes and stated these investigations had “emerged from lies meant solely to smear me.”

“As a substitute of working with me to ban Congressional inventory buying and selling, the Ethics Committee is now opening new frivolous investigations. They’re doing this to keep away from the plain truth that each investigation into me ends the identical approach: my exoneration,” Gaetz stated on the social platform X.

Gaetz led the effort to oust then-Speaker Kevin McCarthy from workplace final fall. Seven Republicans joined him in deposing McCarthy, together with 208 Democrats. Many Home Republicans stay offended with Gaetz, arguing that McCarthy’s ouster was a egocentric and harmful act that damage the occasion.

Gaetz blamed McCarthy for the Ethics Committee’s assessment, regardless that the investigation started earlier than Republicans took the bulk within the Home.

“That is Soviet. Kevin McCarthy confirmed them the person, and they’re now looking for the crime,” Gaetz wrote on X. “I work for Northwest Floridians who received’t be swayed by this nonsense and McCarthy and his goons realize it.”

The committee started its assessment of Gaetz in April 2021, deferred its work in response to a Justice Division request, and renewed its work in Might of final yr after the DOJ dropped its request that lawmaker maintain off an investigating. That was shortly after Gaetz introduced that the Justice Division had ended a intercourse trafficking investigation with out bringing costs towards him.

The ethics committee stated that regardless of the issue of acquiring related data from Gaetz and others, it has spoken with greater than a dozen witnesses, issued 25 subpoenas and reviewed 1000’s of pages of paperwork.

One factor beneath investigation is whether or not Gaetz “allotted particular privileges and favors to people with whom he had a private relationship,” the committee stated.

The ethics committee cautioned that the existence of an investigation doesn’t itself point out that any violation of legislation or Home guidelines occurred. The assertion stated that no different public remark can be made on the matter.