The House Ethics Committee announced on Friday that it has begun an investigation of GOP Rep. Matt Gaetz of Florida:
?? — WASHINGTON: A House ethics panel has opened an investigation of U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz, citing reports of misconduct by the Florida Republican. Gaetz has not been charged with a crime and has denied any wrongdoing. (AP)
— Belaaz (@TheBelaaz) April 9, 2021
From the Committee:
“The Committee is aware of public allegations that Representative Matt Gaetz may have engaged in sexual misconduct and/or illicit drug use, shared inappropriate images or videos on the House floor, misused state identification records, converted campaign funds to personal use, and/or accepted a bribe, improper gratuity, or impermissible gift, in violation of House Rules, laws, or other standards of conduct.”
Full statement here:
DEVELOPING: House Ethics Committee has begun an investigation into allegations made against @RepMattGaetz. Stay with @77WABCradio and https://t.co/YglQsSp5uO for the very latest pic.twitter.com/hGFAoyCcWV
— TalkRadio 77 WABC (@77WABCradio) April 9, 2021
The Committee investigated Gaetz in 2019 over a perceived threat he tweeted at Michael Cohen before Cohen’s testimony in front of Congress:
NEW: The Ethics Committee is investigating Matt Gaetz for a range of potential crimes and rule violations.
He tangled with the committe in 2019 over a tweeted threat to @MichaelCohen212. He blew off the panel at the time.
w/ @nicholaswu12https://t.co/8EAZYXxTZ8
— Kyle Cheney (@kyledcheney) April 9, 2021
So far, the only Republican calling on Gaetz to resign is Rep. Adam Kinzinger:
Matt Gaetz needs to resign. https://t.co/AygfqAxQJX via @thedailybeast
— Adam Kinzinger (@AdamKinzinger) April 9, 2021
A spokesperson for Gaetz also announced on Friday that he’s hired two prominent criminal defense attorneys from New York to represent him as the DOJ continues its probe:
The deepening scrutiny comes as Gaetz faces a Justice Department investigation into sex trafficking allegations involving underage girls. The congressman has retained two prominent New York attorneys. https://t.co/N3x9zWOrZk
— The Associated Press (@AP) April 9, 2021
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