As part of its continuing investigation into the Florida Republican, the House Ethics Committee has issued a subpoena for the testimony of Rep. Matt Gaetz's ex-girlfriend. In a letter to the woman's attorney, the committee requests that Gaetz's ex-girlfriend testify before it via Zoom call on February 29.
The committee had previously approached the lady, who ABC News is not naming, about her participating in an interview. She had told the committee that she intended to "plead the fifth" on any questions pertaining to the congressman, an insider told ABC News.
Tim Jansen, the woman's attorney, said ABC News, "Of course we will cooperate with the subpoena and we will go before the committee."
"I can attest that, acting on behalf of my client, I got a subpoena. Without a doubt, we will show up before the committee when necessary. But we have let the Staff know that my client will be bringing up her Fifth Amendment rights immediately in front of the Committee."
House investigators are interested in meeting with the ex-girlfriend on claims that Gaetz paid for sex, as well as allegations of drug use and possible lobbying violations, according to sources familiar with the committee's work who spoke with ABC News.
The former employee of Gaetz, who worked on Capitol Hill, is said to have information about both the congressman and the former juvenile who was the focus of the Department of Justice's sex trafficking probe, which was ultimately ended without bringing charges against Gaetz. According to reports, the ex was also one of the ladies who went to the Bahamas in 2018 with Gaetz and other people, including the minor, and about which the House ethics committee is also looking into allegations.
In addition to the woman who allegedly had sex with the congressman when she was a minor and Joel Greenberg, Gaetz's former close friend who was sentenced to 11 years in prison after pleading guilty to federal charges, the committee looking into Gaetz has reportedly contacted a number of other witnesses since the beginning of the year, sources told ABC News.
The Ethic Committee has come under fire from Gaetz for "trying to weaponize their procedure." When questioned about the most recent incident, Gaetz stated in a statement to ABC News on Thursday night, "The Ethics Committee is engaged in retribution against me for dismissing the guy who singlehandedly appointed every Republican - Kevin McCarthy."
Gaetz said, "I see through this charade and the American people will too." "I sort of like to expose witch hunts around here."
The committee had previously approached the lady, who ABC News is not naming, about her participating in an interview. She had told the committee that she intended to "plead the fifth" on any questions pertaining to the congressman, an insider told ABC News.
Tim Jansen, the woman's attorney, said ABC News, "Of course we will cooperate with the subpoena and we will go before the committee."
"I can attest that, acting on behalf of my client, I got a subpoena. Without a doubt, we will show up before the committee when necessary. But we have let the Staff know that my client will be bringing up her Fifth Amendment rights immediately in front of the Committee."
House investigators are interested in meeting with the ex-girlfriend on claims that Gaetz paid for sex, as well as allegations of drug use and possible lobbying violations, according to sources familiar with the committee's work who spoke with ABC News.
The former employee of Gaetz, who worked on Capitol Hill, is said to have information about both the congressman and the former juvenile who was the focus of the Department of Justice's sex trafficking probe, which was ultimately ended without bringing charges against Gaetz. According to reports, the ex was also one of the ladies who went to the Bahamas in 2018 with Gaetz and other people, including the minor, and about which the House ethics committee is also looking into allegations.
In addition to the woman who allegedly had sex with the congressman when she was a minor and Joel Greenberg, Gaetz's former close friend who was sentenced to 11 years in prison after pleading guilty to federal charges, the committee looking into Gaetz has reportedly contacted a number of other witnesses since the beginning of the year, sources told ABC News.
The Ethic Committee has come under fire from Gaetz for "trying to weaponize their procedure." When questioned about the most recent incident, Gaetz stated in a statement to ABC News on Thursday night, "The Ethics Committee is engaged in retribution against me for dismissing the guy who singlehandedly appointed every Republican - Kevin McCarthy."
Gaetz said, "I see through this charade and the American people will too." "I sort of like to expose witch hunts around here."
