Gaetz responded to the allegations in an interview Tuesday. He said the claims are “verifiably false” and are part of an elaborate scheme to extort him as well as his family for $25 million. He went on to name former DOJ official David McGee” as the man who he believes planted the leak with the FBI. Yet, McGee has refuted Gaetz’s accusations byclaiming they are merely a way to distract from the investigation.
The allegations were first brought to light in an article published by The New York Times on Tuesday, which cited three sources briefed on the matter. The article claimed the inquiry into Gaetz was opened in the final months of the Trump administration under then-Attorney General William Barr to determine whether congressman had a sexual relationship with a 17-year-old girl and paid for her travel back in 2019.
Gaetz confirmed he and his father are cooperating with federal authorities. He added that the FBI instructed his father to wear a wire after they were reportedly approached by people who said they could “make the investigation go away.” The representative demanded the immediate release of those tapes, which he said implicate McGee and prove the allegations are false.
...and my father has even been wearing a wire at the FBI’s direction to catch these criminals. The planted leak to the FBI tonight was intended to thwart that investigation.
— Rep. Matt Gaetz (@RepMattGaetz) March 30, 2021
No part of the allegations against me are true, and the people pushing these lies are targets...
In a second interview, Gaetz said he has no plans to step down from his seat in the House. So far, no charges have been brought against him.
