The House Ethics Committee is intensifying its investigation into Republican Congressman Matt Gates from Florida. The committee has reached out to the U.S. Department of Justice and a woman who allegedly had sexual relations with Gates when she was 17 years old. It is important to note that Gates has not been charged with any wrongdoing.
The committee has conducted a new round of outreach to potential witnesses, including the woman who was reportedly a minor at the time of the alleged sexual contact. Additionally, they have requested materials from the Justice Department's investigation into Gates. The DOJ's probe, which lasted several years, examined allegations of possible sexual contact with a minor, as well as other crimes. However, no charges were ultimately filed against the congressman.
Gates has vehemently denied the allegations, stating, 'Those allegations were not true, have never been true. And the people who spread those lies have been exposed, indicted, and imprisoned.'
The investigation into Gates originated in late 2020 under former Attorney General Bill Barr's tenure. The DOJ was looking into whether Gates or his associates had engaged in sexual relations with an underage girl, who is now one of the witnesses being contacted by the Ethics Committee. The investigation also encompassed potential lobbying violations, sex trafficking, and obstruction of justice. Although Gates was not charged, his associate Joel Greenberg admitted to multiple crimes, including soliciting and having sex with a minor.
The Ethics Committee initially paused its own probe to allow the federal investigation to proceed. However, following the conclusion of the DOJ's investigation last year, the committee revived its inquiry. This development has had significant political implications, with Gates blaming former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy for reinstating the ethics probe. McCarthy, in turn, has attributed Gates's frustration with the investigation as the motive behind the congressman's efforts to oust him from his position.
It remains to be seen whether the witnesses contacted by the Ethics Committee are obligated to comply with the voluntary requests for information. Failure to comply could result in subpoenas. The committee's request for materials from the Justice Department is not unusual but may pose challenges. The DOJ typically exercises caution when handing over files related to sensitive investigations, and it is uncertain what specific materials they will provide in this case.
As the Ethics Committee's investigation into Congressman Gates intensifies, the repercussions of this probe continue to ripple through the political landscape.
