Daily US Times: After the New York Times has reported, Rep. Matt Gaetz denied that he had a sexual relationship with a 17-year-old. The Justice Department was investigating a possible sexual relationship between the lawmaker and the girl and whether he paid for her to travel with him.
The Republican said in a statement that “no part of the allegations against me are true”. He claims that the accusations were being pushed by people who are targets of an “ongoing extortion investigation.”
Gaetz claimed: “Over the past several weeks my family and I have been victims of an organized criminal extortion involving a former DOJ official seeking $25 million while threatening to smear my name. 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.”
The DoJ declined to comment on the issue and the FBI in Florida did not respond to a request for comment yet.
The statement came after the New York Times reported that three people briefed on the matter said that the DoJ investigation is part of a broader investigation.
The people told the newspaper that as part of this broader probe, investigators are looking at whether Rep. Matt Gaetz, a high profile ally of former President Trump, violated federal sex trafficking laws — something that could carry severe legal repercussions.
No charges have been filed against Gaetz, according to Times.
You may read: Donald Trump uses new website to rewrite history of his presidency