House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) is speaking out about the allegations of sexual misconduct against Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.).
“If, in fact, these allegations are true, of course being removed from the Judiciary Committee is the least that could be done,” Pelosi said.
She added, “But again, I think from what we’ve heard so far, this would be a matter for the Ethics Committee.”
Watch her remarks below:
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi says allegations against Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) "would be a matter for the Ethics Committee." pic.twitter.com/TvdF4fUU9W
— The Recount (@therecount) April 1, 2021
The Department of Justice is reportedly investigating whether Gaetz “had a sexual relationship with a 17-year-old and paid for her to travel with him,” as IJR reported.
The department apparently launched the investigation while William Barr was the attorney general.
“The allegations against me are as searing as they are false,” Gaetz said in an interview with Axios. “I believe that there are people at the Department of Justice who are trying to criminalize my sexual conduct, you know when I was a single guy.”
He also explained, “They are rooted in an extortion effort against my family for $25 million … in exchange for making this case go away.”
On Tuesday, Gaetz said in a statement he and his family have “been victims of an organized criminal extortion involving a former DOJ official seeking $25 million while threatening to smear my name.”
Gaetz added, “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.”
His father, Don, confirmed he wore a wire as part of an investigation into the alleged extortion plot.
House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) was asked during an appearance on Fox News if he would remove Gaetz from the House Judiciary Committee if allegations against him were true, as IJR reported.
“Look I haven’t heard from DOJ. I haven’t been able to talk to Matt Gaetz yet. I just read the story,” McCarthy said.
He continued, “Those are serious implications. If it comes out to be true, yes, we would remove him if that was the case. But right now, Matt Gaetz says it is not true, and we don’t have any information. So let’s get all the information.”