'Somebody sounds scared': Florida Rep Matt Gaetz trolled after he denounces 'new frivolous investigations' by House Ethics Committee

WASHINGTON, DC: Republican Congressman Matt Gaetz has slammed the latest investigations launched against him by the House Ethics Committee.

Gaetz, who has been under scrutiny since 2021 for various allegations, claims these new probes are baseless and politically motivated. The congressman took to social media to express his frustration, insisting that the investigations are part of a continuing smear campaign.

Ongoing investigations against Gaetz since 2021

The House Ethics Committee has been investigating Gaetz since 2021, initially under Democratic control and continuing after Republicans took the majority. The allegations against him include sexual misconduct and illicit drug use. Despite the shift in party control, the committee has persisted with its inquiries, much to Gaetz's chagrin.

In addition to the House Ethics Committee's scrutiny, Gaetz was previously investigated by the Department of Justice (DOJ) over serious allegations, including trafficking and engaging in sex with a minor. The DOJ eventually dropped the charges, with Gaetz maintaining his innocence throughout the process, Newsweek reported.

Gaetz responded to the new investigations via X, formerly known as Twitter, on Monday. He seemed confident that the matter would ultimately lead to his exoneration, just as previous probes had concluded.

"The House Ethics Committee has closed four probes into me, which emerged from lies intended solely to smear me," Gaetz wrote. "Instead of working with me to ban Congressional stock trading, the Ethics Committee is now opening new frivolous investigations."

Gaetz further alleged that the committee's actions are a diversionary tactic. "They are doing this to avoid the obvious fact that every investigation into me ends the same way: my exoneration," he added.

Accusations against Kevin McCarthy

Gaetz suggested that former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy might be behind the latest round of investigations. McCarthy, who retired from Congress after being ousted from the speakership following a motion to vacate initiated by Gaetz, was accused of orchestrating the investigations as a form of political retribution.

"This is Soviet," Gaetz declared. "Kevin McCarthy showed them the man, and they are now trying to find the crime. I work for Northwest Floridians who won't be swayed by this nonsense and McCarthy and his goons know it."

At the time of publication, the specific reasons for the committee's new investigations into Gaetz remained unclear. Gaetz's office declined to comment beyond the congressman's social media statements, indicating that his post "speaks for itself."

McCarthy has publicly addressed Gaetz's accusations and the broader ethics investigation. He suggested that Gaetz's motion to vacate the speakership was a "personal thing" driven by the congressman's desire to halt the ethics investigation.

"He was trying to get something illegally stopped," McCarthy said on CBS News' 'Face the Nation' in March. "I think the Ethics Committee, it was purely Matt coming to me, trying [to get] me to do something illegal to stop the Ethics Committee from moving forward [with] an investigation that was started long before I became speaker."

The ethics investigation McCarthy referred to involves multiple allegations dating back to 2021.

According to The New York Times, Gaetz allegedly "engaged in sexual misconduct and illicit drug use, shared inappropriate images or videos on the House floor, misused state identification records, converted campaign funds to personal use and accepted impermissible gifts under House rules, among other allegations."

Gaetz slammed on social media

Gaetz, known for his controversial presence in the House, faced considerable backlash on social media after he spoke out against the new investigations.

"After years of 'frivolous' attacks against Biden with no evidence, Gaetz calls his own ethics investigation 'frivolous'. I bet there is a real smoking gun somewhere," one posted on X.

"I hope they get him," another commented.

"Somebody sounds scared," a remark read.

"Whatever, Matt. I’m sure it’s nothing. You utter creep," someone else fumed.

"Again, Matt, you reap what you sow!" chimed in another.

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