The committee is demanding that Gates' ex-girlfriend appear in court.
The House Ethics Committee has issued a subpoena seeking testimony from Rep. Matt Gaetz's ex-girlfriend as part of the committee's ongoing investigation into the Florida Republican.
The committee is asking Gaetz's ex-girlfriend to appear before the committee via Zoom call on February 29, according to a letter sent to the woman's attorney.
The woman, who was not identified by ABC News, told the committee that she had been contacted by the committee in advance about voluntarily appearing for the interview and that she would be “fifth in line” to answer questions about the lawmaker. Officials said they had been informed. ABC News.
“Of course we will comply with the subpoena and appear before the committee,” the woman's attorney, Tim Jansen, told ABC News.
“We can confirm that we have received a subpoena on behalf of our client. We will certainly appear before the committee upon request. We have informed them that we plan to take action.”
The House committee did not respond to requests for comment on the matter.
Sources familiar with the committee's work told ABC News that House investigators will speak with Gates' ex-girlfriend about allegations of paying for sex, drug use and possible lobbying violations. He is said to be interested in that.
Gaetz's ex-girlfriend, who previously worked on Capitol Hill, is a former minor who is at the center of a sex trafficking investigation that was ultimately closed by the Justice Department without indicting Gaetz, as well as the congressman. It is said that he also has knowledge about The ex-girlfriend is also one of the women who allegedly went on a trip to the Bahamas with Gaetz and others in 2018, including some minors, and the House Ethics Committee is also investigating. the official said.
ABC News reports that since the beginning of this year, the committee investigating Gates has identified numerous other people, including a woman who allegedly had sexual relations with Gates when she was a minor, and former aide Joel Greenberg. He also contacted witnesses. A friend of Gaetz's was sentenced to 11 years in prison after pleading guilty to federal charges, sources told ABC News.
Gates accused the ethics committee of trying to “weaponize the process.”
When asked about recent developments, Gaetz told ABC News on Thursday night, “The Ethics Committee is working on retaliation against me for expelling Kevin McCarthy, who single-handedly appointed all Republicans. '' in a statement to ABC News.
“I see through this deception, and so will the American people,” Gaetz added. “Exposing witch hunts seems to be my hobby around here.”
