Ethics Committee confirms Matt Gaetz investigation reopened
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Rep. Matt Gaetz. Photo: Adam J. Dewey/Anadolu via Getty Images/
The House Ethics Committee on Tuesday officially confirmed what has long been reported: It has picked up where the Justice Department left off in some of its investigations of Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.).
Why it matters: The scope of the investigation has changed — expanding to look at new claims, such as whether he tried to obstruct the inquiry, while dropping others, such as allegations he misused campaign funds.
- Gaetz has denied all allegations against him and framed the DOJ investigation as an effort to extort him.
State of Play: The investigation originally included a litany of explosive allegations from sexual misconduct and illicit drug use, to misuse of campaign funds and accepting bribes.
- The panel said Tuesday that it would "take no further action at this time" on certain aspects of the probe, including allegations on sharing inappropriate images or videos on the House floor, misusing state identification records, converting campaign funds to personal use, and/or accepting a bribe or improper gratuity.
- However, the committee is now "reviewing allegations" that he may have engaged in sexual misconduct and illicit drug use, accepted improper gifts, dispensed special privileges and favors to individuals with whom he had a personal relationship, and sought to obstruct government investigations of his conduct.
- The panel said its probe of Gaetz, initiated in April 2021, was paused in deference to the DOJ's investigation but reopened last May after the DOJ declined to bring charges.
- Gaetz has "categorically denied all the allegations" it is investigating, and the panel has had "difficulty in obtaining relevant information" from the Florida Republican, according to the statement.
The other side: Gaetz said in a post on X that the panel has "closed four probes into me, which emerged from lies intended solely to smear me."
- "This is Soviet. Kevin McCarthy showed them the man, and they are now trying to find the crime," he added.
- The investigation began in 2021, when Democrats controlled the House, but Gaetz has accused McCarthy, the former speaker, of reopening the probe as a form of political retribution for opposing his election.
- Gaetz led the successful charge to remove McCarthy (R-Calif.) as speaker last October, with McCarthy alleging the Ethics probe was the impetus for the ouster pus
Zoom in: The panel has issued 25 subpoenas, spoken with a dozen witnesses and reviewed thousands of pages of documents as part of its investigation of Gaetz, the statement said.
Go deeper: McCarthy takes shot at Gaetz scandal when discussing his ouster
Editor's note: This piece was corrected to better reflect that the Ethics panel has currently dropped its investigation into some allegations while also probing new claims.
