PNJ.com headlines: Here’s what’s in the news on Wednesday, Jan. 24
In today’s headlines we talk about the city’s plan to purchase the historic John A. Gibson building, what’s replacing Capt’n Funs and more.
A House of Representatives ethics probe into U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz is reportedly active again including interviewing new witnesses, ABC News reported on Tuesday.
Gaetz has been under investigation by the House Ethics Committee since 2021, when sex trafficking allegations emerged about the congressman.
ABC News reported that the Republican-led House Ethics Committee has contacted “multiple new witnesses” and that committee members have begun conducting interviews. The USA TODAY Network has not independently verified the report.
Gaetz denied any wrongdoing, and last year, the Department of Justice notified Gaetz that it had closed its investigation into the matter.
Former Seminole Tax Collector Joel Greenberg was sentenced to 11 years in federal prison after he pleaded guilty to several charges, including wire fraud and sex trafficking a minor. Greenberg alleged Gaetz had a relationship with a 17-year-old girl.
Gaetz responded to the recent ABC News report by implying the members of the ethics committee were suspect.
Previously: ‘He is hated’: House Republicans secretly consider expelling Matt Gaetz after booting George Santos
“It’s great to see the Ethics Committee has interests beyond trading stocks,” Gaetz told ABC News in response to its reporting. “They seem to be quite the unusual whales.”
In December, USA TODAY reported that House Republicans were considering expelling Gaetz after they forced U.S. Rep. George Santos from office.
Gaetz also used the news to send out fundraising emails for his election campaign, claiming the Ethics Committee is continuing its investigation because he led the ouster of former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy.
“The people who have told disgusting lies about me and my family have gone to prison,” Gaetz said in the fundraising email. “But that isn’t stopping the so-called ‘Ethics’ Committee from continuing their Witch Hunt against me.”