GOP ethics committee taps DOJ to expand probe into Gaetz’ sex-trafficking allegations: report

The House Republican-led committee's probe into US Representative Matt Gaetz (R-FL) over sex-trafficking allegations appears to be expanding, according to an exclusive Wednesday, January 24 CNN report.

The ethics committee, CNN reports, "has reached out to the woman whom the congressman allegedly had sexual relations with when she was a 17-year-old minor," and additionally "reached out to the Justice Department requesting materials from its investigation into Gaetz, which included allegations of lobbying violations, sex-trafficking and possible obstruction of justice. The federal probe, which also included allegations he had sex with a minor, concluded in 2023 with no charges brought against the congressman."

According to the news outlet, "A source familiar with the House panel’s work previously told CNN that the Justice Department’s decision not to bring charges against Gaetz does not impact what the committee will and won’t investigate. The committee plans to examine the same allegations they were looking into when they opened the investigation in 2021, the source told CNN."

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The Florida GOP leader told CNN, "Those allegations were not true, have never been true, and the people who spread those lies have been exposed, indicted, and imprisoned."

However, the news outlet reports, "The Ethics Committee’s outreach to the young woman and the Justice Department comes amid a new flurry of activity in the probe, including outreach to multiple other witnesses and starting to conduct witness interviews. The increased activity under Republican leadership is notable given the committee probe was started by House Democrats in 2021."

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CNN's full report is here.