The House Committee on Ethics said Friday that it had launched two separate investigations into the sexual misconduct allegations against Reps. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) and Tom Reed (R-N.Y.).
Gaetz is currently under investigation by the Justice Department for allegedly having sex with a 17-year-old girl and paying for her ― and other young women ― to travel across state lines for sex. Federal investigators are reportedly looking into whether Gaetz used any federal campaign money to make these alleged payments.
Gaetz has also been accused of showing photos and videos of nude women while on the House floor and of taking the drug ecstasy.
The Ethics Committee said in a statement that it was “aware of public allegations” that Gaetz may have “engaged in sexual misconduct and/or illicit drug use, shared inappropriate images or videos on the House floor, misused state identification records, converted campaign funds to personal use, and/or accepted a bribe, improper gratuity, or impermissible gift, in violation of House Rules, laws, or other standards of conduct.”
The committee said it was also aware of allegations that Reed “may have engaged in sexual misconduct.” Reed has been accused by former lobbyist Nicolette Davis of groping her in 2017.