The House Ethics Committee has released a lengthy public statement announcing that it will continue investigating Republican Congressman Matt Gaetz of Florida over allegations of sexual misconduct, illicit drug use, and accepting improper gifts. The committee accused Gaetz of being uncooperative with its probe and obstructing the investigation.
The House Ethics Committee has announced that it will continue investigating Republican Congressman Matt Gaetz of Florida over allegations of sexual misconduct, illicit drug use, and accepting improper gifts.
Matt Gaetz Ethics Probe: House Committee Accuses Congressman of Obstruction and Gift-Taking
The announcement comes after a years-long probe by the committee, which was initiated in April 2021 following reports that Gaetz had a relationship with an underage girl. The Department of Justice (DOJ) declined to charge Gaetz in 2023.
The bipartisan committee, led by Rep. Michael Guest (R-Miss.), rarely releases such lengthy public statements. However, the panel noted that its investigation into Gaetz has attracted widespread media attention.
Matt Gaetz Ethics Probe: House Committee Accuses Congressman of Obstruction and Gift-Taking
"There has been a significant and unusual amount of public reporting on the Committee's activities this Congress. Much of that reporting has been inaccurate," the committee said, without elaborating on whether it was talking about the Gaetz matter specifically.
The committee also noted that Gaetz denies all allegations.
Matt Gaetz Ethics Probe: House Committee Accuses Congressman of Obstruction and Gift-Taking
"Based on its review to date, the Committee has determined that certain of the allegations merit continued review," the committee said. "During the course of its investigation, the Committee has also identified additional allegations that merit review."
House investigators are delving further into accusations that Gaetz "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."
Matt Gaetz Ethics Probe: House Committee Accuses Congressman of Obstruction and Gift-Taking
The committee said it's no longer reviewing accusations "that he may have shared inappropriate images or videos on the House floor, misused state identification records, converted campaign funds to personal use, and/or accepted a bribe or improper gratuity."
When reached for further comment, Gaetz's office pointed Fox News Digital to a Monday night X post criticizing the investigation.
In the social media post, Gaetz lashed out against the House Ethics Committee, calling on the panel to instead work with him on cracking down on lawmakers who profit off the stock market.
"The House Ethics Committee has closed four probes into me, which emerged from lies intended solely to smear me. Instead of working with me to ban Congressional stock trading, the Ethics Committee is now opening new frivolous investigations," Gaetz said. "They are doing this to avoid the obvious fact that every investigation into me ends the same way: my exoneration."
Gaetz has blamed former Speaker Kevin McCarthy for his continued entanglement with the Ethics Committee.
"This is Soviet. Kevin McCarthy showed them the man, and they are now trying to find the crime. I work for Northwest Floridians who won't be swayed by this nonsense and McCarthy and his goons know it," Gaetz said.
A spokesperson for McCarthy declined to comment on Gaetz's post when reached by Fox News Digital.
The House Ethics Committee's investigation into Gaetz is ongoing.
