The ethics committee of the Democratic-controlled House of Representatives said it has opened an investigation into Republican Party congressman Matt Gaetz involving charges, including the possibility of sexual violations and drug use.
The top Democratic Chair and top Republican said in their shared statements that they have become “aware of public allegations” that Gaetz, one of the main former supporters of Donald Trump in Congress, may have violated “other behavioral regulations.”
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According to the law enforcement sources, the US Department of Justice is investigating Gaetz for the possibility of violating the trafficking law by paying travel fees for 17-year-old women with whom he was romantically involved. The Florida member of the US Congress has not been charged with any crime and has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing.
The leaders of the Ethics Committee said the allegations were included whether Gaetz “may be involved in sexual violations, use of illegal drugs, sharing inappropriate images or videos on the floor of the house, misused state records, campaign funds that are converted to personal use, and accepted a bribe.
On the other hand, Gaetz Office responded to the statement: ” Once again, the office will reaffirm, these accusations are false and have not been validated by a single human being who is willing to put their names behind them.” Speaking at “Save America Summit” at Trump National Doral Resort in Miami on Friday, Gaetz said that the “wild conspiracy theory” was used to smear him. “I was built for battle, and I’m not going anywhere,” Gaetz said.
The summit was organized by a pro-trump group called Women For America First. The group also held a January 6 rally near the White House, which preceded Trump supporters’ deadly rampage at the US Capitol. Previously, Adam Kinzinger became the first Republican of the first Congress to call for Gaetz to leave his post.
“Matt Gaetz needs to resign,” Kinzinger, a critic of Trump, said on a Twitter post on Thursday. A friend of Gaetz, a former Florida tax collector, named Joel Greenberg, is expected to plead guilty of the sex trade and fraud cases in the Federal Court, officials said on Thursday.
Greenberg’s lawyers, Fritz Scheller, told the news reporters on Thursday, “I’m sure Matt Gaetz doesn’t feel very comfortable today.” Scheller may have been referring to media reports that Greenberg could work with federal investigators in their Gaetz investigation. Two New York criminal defense lawyers on Friday confirmed that Gaetz had employed them.
