House Ethics Committee continues investigating Matt Gaetz but closes some portions of its probe

The House Ethics Committee announced on Tuesday that it will continue to investigate certain allegations surrounding GOP Rep. Matt Gaetz, including whether Gaetz engaged in sexual misconduct, while ending other portions of the probe.

The House Ethics Committee announced Tuesday that it will continue to investigate certain allegations surrounding Rep. Matt Gaetz, including whether the Florida Republican engaged in sexual misconduct, while ending other portions of the probe. In a rare statement updating its work, the bipartisan committee stated some of the allegations against Gaetz “merit continued review” and it has “also identified additional allegations” that warrant investigating. The panel will continue to investigate allegations that Gaetz may have “engaged in sexual misconduct and illicit drug use, accepted improper gifts, dispensed special privileges and favors to individuals with whom he had a personal relationship, and sought to obstruct government investigations of his conduct.” The panel will no longer investigate the allegations that he “may have shared inappropriate images or videos on the House floor, misused state identification records, converted campaign funds to personal use, and/or accepted a bribe or improper gratuity.” The largely secretive panel gave more insight into why it put out a lengthy statement in the middle of its investigation. “There has been a significant and unusual amount of public reporting on the Committee’s activities this Congress. Much of that reporting has been inaccurate. The Committee’s investigations are conducted confidentially, but the Committee’s confidentiality rules do not prohibit witnesses from disclosing information about the Committee’s requests or conversations with Committee investigators,” the statement read.