Gaetz says Ethics Committee opening ‘new frivolous investigations’

Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) said the House Ethics Committee is opening “new frivolous investigations” against him and that it had closed other probes that were based on “lies.”

“The House Ethics Committee has closed four probes into me, which emerged from lies intended solely to smear me. Instead of working with me to ban Congressional stock trading, the Ethics Committee is now opening new frivolous investigations. They are doing this to avoid the obvious fact that every investigation into me ends the same way: my exoneration,” Gaetz said Monday in a post on the social platform X. 

“This is Soviet. Kevin McCarthy showed them the man, and they are now trying to find the crime. I work for Northwest Floridians who won't be swayed by this nonsense and McCarthy and his goons know it,” Gaetz said.

It is unclear what the basis is for any new investigation. Gaetz’s office said the post speaks for itself. Staff at the Ethics Committee, which does not speak to the press about ongoing investigations, did not return an inquiry about Gaetz’s claims of four closed probes and “frivolous” new ones.

The House investigations into Gaetz grew out of a Department of Justice probe into him that was first revealed in early 2021, reportedly based in part on whether he had a sexual relationship with an underage girl. The Ethics Committee opened a probe shortly after, also examining whether he shared inappropriate images or videos on the House floor and engaged in illicit drug use.

Gaetz has vigorously denied the allegations. And in 2023, the Justice Department declined to prosecute Gaetz.

But the Ethics Committee revived the investigations into him, including by speaking to former associates and reportedly seeking materials from the Department of Justice.

Former Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) has repeatedly said Gaetz led the charge to remove him from the Speakership last year due to anger about the Ethics Committee probe against him, insisting that he was staying out of the panel’s investigation. Gaetz, McCarthy charged, wanted him to stop the probe. 

Gaetz has said his motivation to remove McCarthy was out of concerns about his “truthfulness” rather than the Ethics investigation.

McCarthy has endorsed a primary challenger against Gaetz, retired naval officer Aaron Dimmock.