At least one woman has reportedly admitted to the House Ethics Committee that Matt Gaetz paid her for sex via Venmo.
Researchers from the committee have interviewed six women, according to reports ABC newsand the women showed them Venmo payments from the Florida Republican and asked if they were for sex.
The women allegedly attended parties with Gaetz and his former friend Joel Greenberg, who was sentenced to 11 years in prison in 2022 for sex trafficking of a minor.
While one woman said she was paid directly for sex, others said they were paid to attend parties that featured drugs and sex.
The House of Representatives Ethics Committee announced in a rare public statement that it would conduct a “further investigation” of Rep. Matt Gaetz on allegations including sexual abuse and illegal drug use.
The women allegedly attended parties with Gaetz and his former friend Joel Greenberg, who was sentenced to 11 years in prison in 2022 for sex trafficking of a minor
Gaetz has denied all allegations that have long circulated around him, including paying for sex. “Someone is trying to recategorize my generosity towards ex-girlfriends as something more unpleasant,” he previously said.
The Ethics Commission obtained Gaetz’s Venmo data through a subpoena.
The Justice Department previously investigated Gaetz for alleged sex trafficking of a minor, but informed him that they would not file charges in 2023 due to witness credibility issues.
The Ethics Commission announced in a rare public statement on Tuesday that it would “further investigate” Gaetz on allegations including sexual abuse and illegal drug use.
Gaetz had said Monday that the committee would open “new frivolous investigations” into him, which he blamed on former chairman Kevin McCarthy.
The allegations the commission says it is further investigating include whether Gaetz engaged in sexual misconduct and illegal drug use, accepted inappropriate gifts, granted special privileges and favors to individuals with whom he had a personal relationship, and has tried to obstruct government investigations into its effects. his behaviour.’
The new examination is the obstruction examination. Others are underway.
Gaetz has denied all allegations and the commission said it was “difficult” to obtain information from him. They have already spoken to more than a dozen witnesses, issued 25 subpoenas and reviewed thousands of pages of documents.
The committee confirmed that they will no longer investigate further whether Gaetz “shared inappropriate images or videos on the House floor, misused identity information, converted campaign funds to personal use and/or accepted bribes or improper tips.”
Gaetz spoke to the committee about Instead of working with me to ban Congress’ stock trading, the Ethics Commission is now opening new frivolous investigations. They do this to avoid the obvious fact that every investigation into me ends the same way: my exoneration.”
‘This is Soviet. Kevin McCarthy showed them the man, and they are now trying to find the crime. I work for Northwest Floridians who will not be swayed by this nonsense, and McCarthy and his minions know it.”
McCarthy insisted that Gaetz launched the motion to remove him from the speakership because he was angry that McCarthy would not end the ethics investigation into him.
The committee previously paused and then resumed its investigation into Gaetz so as not to interfere with a separate Department of Justice (DOJ) investigation. The DOJ has opted not to charge Gaetz over claims that he trafficked a 17-year-old girl.
Gaetz has consistently denied allegations that he helped a friend of a local tax collector, Joel Greenberg, transport the girl across state lines.
Greenberg was sentenced to 11 years in prison in December 2022 after pleading guilty in a plea deal.
Gaetz had said Monday that the committee would open “new frivolous investigations” into him, which he blamed on former chairman Kevin McCarthy.
Gaetz first came to the attention of investigators because of his friendship with Greenberg, described as his “wingman,” who pleaded guilty last year to six counts of fraud and sex crimes.
Greenberg told investigators that Gaetz and at least two other men had sexual contact with a 17-year-old girl.
He told them that they both gave women money and gifts in exchange for sex.
Greenberg pleaded guilty to identity theft, stalking, wire fraud, conspiracy to bribe a government official and sex trafficking of a minor.