{"id":2346338,"date":"2024-09-26T14:40:01","date_gmt":"2024-09-26T18:40:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/gaetz-will-no-longer-voluntarily-participate-in-ethics-committee-investigation-over-sex-and-drug-allegations-washington-examiner\/"},"modified":"2024-09-26T14:42:22","modified_gmt":"2024-09-26T18:42:22","slug":"gaetz-will-no-longer-voluntarily-participate-in-ethics-committee-investigation-over-sex-and-drug-allegations-washington-examiner","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/gaetz-will-no-longer-voluntarily-participate-in-ethics-committee-investigation-over-sex-and-drug-allegations-washington-examiner\/","title":{"rendered":"Gaetz will no longer voluntarily participate in Ethics Committee investigation over sex and drug allegations &#8211; Washington Examiner"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">36<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fgaetz-will-no-longer-voluntarily-participate-in-ethics-committee-investigation-over-sex-and-drug-allegations-washington-examiner%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2346338&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) has announced that he will no \u200blonger voluntarily cooperate with\u200d the House Ethics \u2062Committee&#8217;s investigation into allegations of \u200dsexual \u200dmisconduct and \u200cdrug use. In a letter, Gaetz criticized \u200bthe inquiry\u2064 as a political attack, claiming\u200b it \u200bseeks to uncover personal information \u2063that should not \u2062be within Congress&#8217;s purview. \u2063This decision follows the committee&#8217;s \u200dconfirmation \u200cof ongoing investigations concerning\u200d allegations involving Gaetz&#8217;s\u200c personal and\u200b professional conduct.<\/p>\n<p>Gaetz stated that he had\u2063 already provided extensive records and\u2063 answered numerous\u200b questions \u2064but\u200b found inquiries regarding his sexual history inappropriate. He noted \u200dthat although he \u200cwill cease voluntary cooperation, a subpoena for\u200d his \u2064testimony has \u200bbeen issued, indicating that he may still be compelled to \u2063appear before the committee.<\/p>\n<p>The Ethics Committee originally opened the investigation in\u2062 April \u20622021 after receiving allegations related to\u2063 lobbying violations, sex trafficking, and sex with a minor. While a previous investigation by the Department of Justice did not \u200clead to charges against \u200cGaetz, the Ethics Committee reopened the inquiry in May 2023, focusing on\u2063 various allegations, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/matt-gaetz-fundraises-off-the-possibility-that-the-house-will-expel-him-like-santos\/\" title=\"Matt Gaetz capitalizes on potential expulsion from the House, mirroring Santos\">including sexual misconduct<\/a> and misuse of campaign funds. Gaetz continues to deny all allegations and has attributed \u2062motivations for the investigation \u200dto political rivalries, \u200cparticularly involving\u2062 former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy. He has also raised \u2064concerns about the credibility of witnesses against him, particularly highlighting the case of Joel Greenberg,\u2064 a former associate currently imprisoned for sex trafficking.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">Gaetz will no longer voluntarily participate in Ethics Committee investigation over sex and drug allegations<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_1769618\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p>Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) will no longer voluntarily participate in a House Ethics Committee investigation <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/house\/3049573\/house-ethics-allegations-gaetz-investigation-drops-bribery-charges\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>into allegations of sexual misconduct and drug use<\/a>, the Florida Republican announced Thursday.<\/p>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>In a letter, Gaetz accused the panel of using the inquiry as a &ldquo;political payback exercise&rdquo; that seeks &ldquo;deeply personal information that is no business of Congress.&rdquo; <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/RepMattGaetz\/status\/1839341409582846196\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>The letter<\/a> comes after the committee confirmed reports earlier this summer that it is investigating whether Gaetz has engaged in sexual misconduct and illicit drug use while also giving &ldquo;special privileges&rdquo; to individuals with whom he had personal relationships.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;This question about my sexual history reveals a sinister motive of the Committee to harm me and those who have had any association with me,&rdquo; Gaetz said in what he called his &ldquo;final response&rdquo; to the committee. &ldquo;To date, I have voluntarily produced tens of thousands of records and answered many of your relevant questions over several months. But asking about my sexual history as a single man with adult women is a bridge too far.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>As a result, Gaetz said, he would no longer participate voluntarily in the investigation.<\/p>\n<p>However, that does not mean the Florida Republican will not be called to testify. Gaetz noted in his letter that the Ethics Committee has issued a subpoena for his testimony, although it has not yet been served. <\/p>\n<p>The <em>Washington Examiner <\/em>contacted a committee spokesperson for comment.<\/p>\n<p>The Ethics Committee first opened the inquiry into Gaetz in April 2021 based on allegations of lobbying violations, sex trafficking, sex with a minor, and obstruction of justice. The panel later referred the allegations to the Department of Justice, which closed the investigation after concluding it had not found enough evidence to charge the congressman with any crimes.<\/p>\n<p>However, the Ethics Committee later reopened the investigation in May 2023. Since then, the panel has closed four inquiries into Gaetz related to allegations he &ldquo;shared inappropriate images or videos on the&nbsp;<a href=\"http:\/\/washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/house-of-representatives\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">House<\/a>&nbsp;floor, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/house-ethics-committee-investigating-rep-matt-gaetz\/\" title=\"House Ethics Committee Investigating Rep. Matt Gaetz\">misused state identification records<\/a>, converted campaign funds to personal use, and\/or accepted a bribe or improper gratuity.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>However, the allegations of sexual misconduct and illicit drug use are still under review. <\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;You ask, in part, whether I&rsquo;ve had sex with a list of adult women over the past seven years,&rdquo; Gaetz said in his letter. &ldquo;The lawful, consensual, sexual activities of adults are not the business of Congress. Neither is a detailing of medications I have taken under the color of law.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Gaetz has repeatedly denied the allegations, previously accusing former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) of greenlighting the inquiry last year due to personal conflicts between the two. McCarthy even cited the ethics investigation as the primary reason for his ouster as the top Republican in the House, which Gaetz led last year.<\/p>\n<p>The Florida Republican also criticized the committee for relying on &ldquo;star witness&rdquo; Joel Greenberg, a former friend and political ally of Gaetz who is currently serving an <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/friday-afternoon-update-intel-leaker-hearing-and-theranos-founders-appeal\/\" title=\"Friday Afternoon Update: Intel Leaker Hearing And Theranos Founder\u2019s Appeal\">11-year prison sentence<\/a> after pleading guilty to charges of sex trafficking in May 2021.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Gaetz claimed he provided a memo to the Ethics Committee written by federal agents detailing an interview with a jailhouse informant who claimed Greenberg talked about plans to frame Gaetz in exchange for a lesser sentence.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;I provided the Committee dispositive evidence of my innocence by producing a &lsquo;smoking gun&rsquo; contemporaneous, jailhouse writing, documenting the plot to frame me, which includes both Joel Greenberg and his victim,&rdquo; Gaetz said. &ldquo;This was authenticated by two former federal agents who interviewed the jailhouse informant who revealed the plot against me.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Greenberg &ldquo;has cooperated and is cooperating&rdquo; with congressional requests for information, his lawyer Fritz Scheller <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/2847907\/gaetz-witness-cooperating-house-ethics-committee\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>told the&nbsp;<em>Washington Examiner&nbsp;<\/em>earlier this year<\/a>. Scheller did not disclose whether Greenberg had submitted materials&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/house-committee-investigating-matt-gaetz\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">supporting the sex allegations against Gaetz<\/a>, but he noted &ldquo;that documents provided to Congress support statements Mr. Greenberg has made in the past.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>The timing of Gaetz&rsquo;s letter suggests the committee may be nearing the end of its investigation and in the process of finalizing a report. The inquiry has spanned three years and two Congresses.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p> <script data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/cdn-cgi\/scripts\/5c5dd728\/cloudflare-static\/email-decode.min.js\"><\/script><script>!function(){var g=window;g.googletag=g.googletag||{},g.googletag.cmd=g.googletag.cmd||[],g.googletag.cmd.push(function(){g.googletag.pubads().setTargeting(\"has-featured-video\",\"true\")})}();<\/script><script>var _bp=_bp||[];_bp.push({\"div\":\"Brid_1769618\",\"obj\":{\"id\":\"27789\",\"width\":\"1280\",\"height\":\"720\",\"stickyDirection\":\"below\",\"video\":\"1769618\"}});<\/script><script defer src=\"https:\/\/services.brid.tv\/player\/build\/brid.min.js\"><\/script><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Gaetz withdraws from Ethics Committee investigation into allegations<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2640,"featured_media":2346339,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/AP24165507275003.webp","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[538],"tags":[5609,41789,3624,3976],"class_list":["post-2346338","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-washington-examiner","tag-allegations","tag-ethics-committee","tag-gaetz","tag-investigation"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/AP24165507275003.webp","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2346338","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2640"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2346338"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2346338\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2346339"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2346338"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2346338"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2346338"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}