Ethics probe

Gaetz says he will no longer voluntarily cooperate with House Ethics probe

He says the committee is asking "uncomfortably nosey" questions about his sex life and potential drug usage.

Anthony Adragna

Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) said Thursday he will no longer voluntarily cooperate with a House Ethics Committee investigation into his conduct, calling the probe “uncomfortably nosey.”

In a lengthy letter to the committee posted to social media platform X, Gaetz said he's aware of a subpoena from the committee but that it has not yet been served to him. He “unequivocally” denied sexual activity with anyone under the age of 18 and said he had "not used drugs which are illegal, absent some law allowing use in a jurisdiction of the United States.”

Gaetz has denied wrongdoing. The Justice Department conducted its own investigation as part of a sex trafficking probe and, according to Gaetz’s lawyers and DOJ officials, decided not to bring criminal charges.

The lawmaker said the investigation seeks to remove him from office and smear his name. “Asking about my sexual history as a single man with adult women is a bridge too far,” he said.