Rep. Matt Gaetz of Florida is under investigation for sexual misconduct after a report revealed that the Department of Justice is looking into whether he had a sexual relationship with a 17-year-old girl. Gaetz claims the investigation is related to an effort to extort him.
The New York Times said that according to three sources, an inquiry seeks to uncover whether Gaetz violated sex trafficking laws by paying for a teen girl to travel with him. Charges have not been filed against the Florida congressman. The alleged encounter under investigation occurred about two years ago, and a DOJ investigation began near the end of the Trump administration late last year.
Gaetz said in a statement that the allegation is part of an ongoing effort to extort him and his family and said "no part" of it is true. He told Fox News' Tucker Carlson Tuesday evening that March 16 "was when this got going from the extortion standpoint."
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