The House Ethics Committee said Tuesday it has identified "additional allegations" against Rep. Matt Gaetz "that merit review," as it continues to investigate the Florida Republican over claims of what it called "sexual misconduct and illicit drug use."
The Ethics Committee said it is now eyeing claims that Gaetz — who denies wrongdoing — "dispensed special privileges and favors to individuals with whom he had a personal relationship, and sought to obstruct government investigations of his conduct."
The ethics panel also said it had difficulty in obtaining relevant information from Gaetz and others since the probe began in April 2021 amid a federal criminal sex trafficking investigation of Gaetz and a friend, Joel Greenberg.
"During the course of its investigation, the Committee has also identified additional allegations that merit review," despite the difficulty of getting information from Gaetz, the Ethics Committee said.
Gaetz's fate and the outcome of the ethics probe carry more weight now that Republicans have only a paper-thin majority in the House of Representatives.
Persons:
Matt Gaetz, Kevin McCarthy, McCarthy's, Gaetz —, Joel Greenberg, Greenberg, Gaetz, McCarthy
Organizations:
Rep, U.S, Capitol, Florida Republican, Gaetz, Florida congressman, California Republican, Republicans, Representatives, GOP
Locations:
Washington, Florida, Gaetz, California
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