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Republican congressman Matt Gaetz is reportedly being investigated over allegations he had a relationship with a 17-year-old girl, according to The New York Times.
Quoting three people familiar with the matter, the Times reported that the investigation began in the final months of the Trump administration under attorney general William Barr.
They are reportedly looking into whether the rising GOP star and close ally to Donald Trump had a sexual relationship with the teenager two years ago and whether he paid for her travel across state lines, in violation of sex trafficking laws.
Mr Gaetz told the Times that his lawyers had been in contact with the Justice Department and that they were told he was a subject, but not the target, of an investigation, which is reported to be focused on a political ally in Florida.
“I only know that it has to do with women,” Mr Gaetz told the newspaper. “I have a suspicion that someone is trying to recategorize my generosity to ex-girlfriends as something more untoward.”
In a tweet late Tuesday, the Florida congressman said his family has been victim to an organized crime extortion threat involving an ex-Department of Justice official seeking $25m.
“We have been cooperating with federal authorities in this matter and my father has even been wearing a wire at the FBI’s direction to catch these criminals,” he said.
Gaetz said no part of the allegations were true and called on the DOJ to “immediately release the tapes” that implicate the former DOJ official.
Wyoming man charged with threatening to kill Matt Gaetz ahead of rally to unseat Liz Cheney
Florida congressman Matt Gaetz was among several Republicans who were allegedly sent death threats on the day of a planned rally in Wyoming to unseat Liz Cheney for voting to impeach Donald Trump.
In federal court on Tuesday, Christopher Kent Podlesnik pleaded not guilty to leaving threatening voicemail messages to Mr Gaetz and other elected officials on the day of the rally.
The court appearance came as Mr Gaetz himself was accused of being under federal investigation over an alleged relationship with a 17-year-old girl two years ago, which he says is part of an organised $25m extortion plot. He has denied any wrongdoing.
Justin Vallejo has the story.
Graeme Massie31 March 2021 03:01
Tucker Carlson says Matt Gaetz interview was ‘one of the weirdest’ he has done
Fox News host had Matt Gaetz on his show then told viewers that it was “one of the weirdest interviews I’ve ever conducted.”
Graeme Massie31 March 2021 02:07
Matt Gaetz tells Tucker Carlson he has never travelled with a 17-year-old girl
Matt Gaetz defended himself on Fox News and said that the claims against him were part of a $25 million extortion plot.
Graeme Massie31 March 2021 01:47
Ted Lieu takes swipe at Matt Gaetz ‘wire’ claim
The congressman took to Twitter to blast his Republican colleague for revealing details of the FBI investigation.
Graeme Massie31 March 2021 01:25
Ted Lieu calls for Matt Gaetz to be removed from House Judiciary committee
The Democratic congressman from California took to Twitter to demand that Mr Gaetz not be on the committee until the reported DOJ investigation is completed.
Graeme Massie31 March 2021 00:48
Matt Gaetz says he’s working with FBI on $25m extortion plot over false allegations
The Florida congressman said in a Twitter thread that his family has been victim to an organized crime extortion threat involving an ex-Department of Justice official seeking $25m.
“We have been cooperating with federal authorities in this matter and my father has even been wearing a wire at the FBI’s direction to catch these criminals,” he said.
Gaetz said no part of the allegations were true and called on the DOJ to “immediately release the tapes” that implicate the former DOJ official.
“The planted leak to the FBI tonight was intended to thwart that investigation,” he said, in an apparent reference to The New York Time’s story.
Justin Vallejo31 March 2021 00:00
BREAKING: Matt Gaetz investigated over claims he had a sexual relationship with a 17-year-old, report says
Matt Gaetz, a Republican congressman from Florida and close ally of former president Donald Trump, is being investigated over allegations that he had a sexual relationship with a 17-year-old and paid her to travel with him, the New York Times reported.
The investigation is said to be focused on whether Mr Gaetz violated sex trafficking laws, the newspaper said, citing three people briefed on it.
It is reportedly part of a larger probe into Joel Greenberg, a Florida official and political ally of Mr Gaetz who was indicted last summer on child sex trafficking charges.
Justice Department investigators are reportedly looking into encounters between Mr Gaetz and the girl that were alleged to have taken place two years ago, when the girl was 17.
The Independent’s Richard Hall reports.
Justin Vallejo30 March 2021 23:50
Welcome to live coverage of Matt Gaetz
Hello and welcome to The Independent’s rolling coverage of the reported investigation of Florida congressman Matt Gaetz.
Justin Vallejo30 March 2021 23:49
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