According to Tuesday evening report from the New York Times, the investigation was launched during President Donald Trump's term, under former-attorney general William Barr, and focuses on an alleged 2019 relationship between Gaetz and a 17-year-old girl. The investigation also looks at whether or not the Florida congressman paid for her to cross state lines, which would breach federal sex trafficking laws.
The investigation is part of a larger inquiry into former Seminole County tax collector and friend Joel Greenberg, who was charged last year with 14 felony counts accusing him of stalking a political opponent, using a state database to create fake IDs, and sex trafficking a minor between the ages of 14 and 17, reports the Times.
Gaetz told the publication that the Justice Department informed his lawyers that he was the subject and not the target of the Greenberg investigation.
"I only know that it has to do with women," said Gaetz to the Times. "I have a suspicion that someone is trying to recategorize my generosity to ex-girlfriends as something more untoward."
While speaking to Axios, Gaetz said he thinks he's being targeted, despite the investigation starting under the Trump Administration, which he's constantly defended.
"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," said Gaetz to the publication, while adding that he thinks he's being extorted. "They are rooted in an extortion effort against my family for $25 million … in exchange for making this case go away," added the 38-year-old.
"I have definitely, in my single days, provided for women I've dated. You know, I've paid for flights, for hotel rooms. I’ve been, you know, generous as a partner. I think someone is trying to make that look criminal when it is not," said Gaetz to Axios.
This isn't the first time Gaetz has been accused of sexual misconduct. Last year, Florida state Rep. Chris Latvala accused the congressman of designing a "game" with a point system for "sleeping with aides, interns, lobbyists, and married legislators."
The game, which was first reported by the Miami Herald, awarded one point for a having sex with a lobbyist, two for a staffer, three for another legislator and six for a married legislator. At the time, Gaetz denied to the Tampa Bay Times that he created, had knowledge of, or participated in the game.
Then, of course, there's this unfortunate tweet…
I say we change Florida’s welcome signs to this 👇 https://t.co/w1eBUvvg8F
— Matt Gaetz (@mattgaetz) August 12, 2019
And this one…
Deal. I want Gaetzgate. https://t.co/MB8sYjwJcT
— Matt Gaetz (@mattgaetz) March 25, 2021
This is a developing story.
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This article appears in Mar 25-31, 2021.