As US Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) continues to dodge allegations that he paid for sex with an underage teenager, the Daily Beast exclusively reports that the Department of Justice is "stonewalling" the House Ethics Committee "and refusing to turn over relevant information about its own sprawling criminal probe" into the Florida congressman.
Per the Beast, "What happens next might be crucial for an investigation that could unearth damaging new information about the Florida congressman and potentially provide grounds for disciplinary action or even expulsion."
A source familiar with the matter told the news outlet that "the Ethics Committee had previously cooperated with the DOJ’s investigation into Gaetz," and therefore, hoping the agency returns the favor.
READ MORE: 'Uhhhhhh': Matt Gaetz mocked for saying he's never been accused of wrongdoing
The Beast reports "the committee has authorized multiple subpoenas to the DOJ for the information but has not served them yet, according to one source. Another source added that it is unusual for the DOJ to push back against the committee to this extent, especially when the relevant investigation isn’t active."
Furthermore, "if the DOJ continues to refuse to cooperate at all, that could significantly hinder the committee’s investigation and potentially stall it—at least until the timeline runs into the heart of election season, with voting in the Florida's congressional primaries only about three months away," the news outlet notes.
Politico reported Wednesday morning that former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) — who was ousted in September due to Gaetz's efforts — has endorsed the Sunshine State lawmaker's opponent.
McCarthy told Politico, "Gaetz is the Hunter Biden of the Republican Party. He’s got an opponent who is pro-life, pro-Second Amendment, trained at Pensacola, went to the Naval Academy and flew jets to defend us while Gaetz was getting kicked out of high school, buying coke and paying minors for sex."
READ MORE: McCarthy accuses Gaetz of 'buying coke and paying minors for sex': 'Hunter Biden of the GOP'
The Beast also notes, "After Gaetz moved to oust Kevin McCarthy as Speaker last year, The Daily Beast reported he told colleagues it was because of McCarthy’s failure to scuttle the probe."
The Daily Beast's report is here (subscription required).
