The House Ethics Committee announced Friday that it has opened an investigation into Republican Rep. 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 have reported federal investigators from CBS News they study a trip to the Bahamas that Gaetz allegedly made in late 2018 or early 2019 as part of their consultation. Gaetz also faces charges that he had an inappropriate 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 Rep. Matt Gaetz may have committed sexual misconduct and / or illicit drug use, shared inappropriate images or videos on the House floor, made a misuse of state records, converted campaign funds to personal use and / or accepted a bribe, improper gratuity or prohibited gift, in violation of House rules, laws or other standards. ” the committee said Friday.
Gaetz’s office responded to the news of the investigation Friday.
“Once again, the office will reiterate, these allegations are blatantly false and have not been validated by any human being willing to leave his name,” his office said.
In a statement to CBS News on Wednesday, Gaetz’s office said he “has never paid for sex or had sex with a minor girl.”
“What started with flashy headlines about‘ sex trafficking ’has become a general fishing exercise on holidays and consensual relationships with adults,” Gaetz’s office added. “Yesterday, we even heard a story of ‘forgiveness’ for nonsense that turned out to be false, and today it’s just more euphemism. It’s interesting to see how Washington’s wheels grind so hard every time one of their falsehoods is demolished “.
The Democratic-led House Ethics Committee also announced Friday that it will open an investigation into Republican Congressman Tom Reed, who faces a charge of sexual misconduct. Reed of New York has already announced that he will not run for re-election in 2022 and apologized after allegations of sexual misconduct by a former lobbyist against him.
“The committee notes the simple fact that it is investigating these allegations and publicly disclosing their review, does not in itself indicate that any violation has occurred, nor does it reflect any judgment on behalf of the committee,” the committee said in announcing the two research. “No further public comment will be made on this issue in accordance with committee rules.”
Reed did not immediately respond to CBS News’ request for comment on the investigation.
Gaetz, who refuses to resign, did so preventively ask then-President Trump for a general apology before the former president left office, according to two sources familiar with the situation. Trump said in a statement that Gaetz did not apologize, but the real estate mogul did not specifically address whether Gaetz had apologized to anyone else in the White House. Gaetz has been one of Trump’s most outspoken allies.
– Sara Cook, Nicole Sganga, Rebecca Kaplan, Major Garrett, Michael Kaplan, Clare Hymes and Jessica Kegu contributed to this report