Congressman Matt Gaetz said in an interview he’s being targeted by an “extortion effort” following reports that a DOJ investigation is looking into a possible sexual relationship he had with a 17-year-old.
The New York Times broke news Tuesday that a DOJ investigation — apparently opened under former Attorney General Bill Barr — was looking at “whether he had a sexual relationship with a 17-year-old and paid for her to travel with him” and “whether Mr. Gaetz violated federal sex trafficking laws.”
The Florida Republican spoke with Axios’ Jonathan Swan and said, “The allegations against me are as searing as they are false… 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.”
Gaetz said the allegations are “rooted in an extortion effort against my family”:
Gaetz sent Axios screenshots of text messages, emails and documents outlining the alleged extortion scheme, which he claimed was being run by a former DOJ employee.
The Justice Department declined to comment…Asked what the charges could relate to, Gaetz said: “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.”Gaetz said he was “absolutely” confident none of the women was underage.
Gaetz said his lawyers were told he was the subject of an investigation, and told the Times, “I only know that it has to do with women. I have a suspicion that someone is trying to recategorize my generosity to ex-girlfriends as something more untoward.”
Following the publication of the Axios report, Gaetz posted a Twitter thread saying he’s being targeted by “a former DOJ official seeking $25 million while threatening to smear my name.”