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MATT GAETZ

Rep. Gaetz investigated over possible sexual relationship with teen, report says

Democrats called for him to step aside from the House Judiciary Committee, which oversees the Justice Department. The Justice Department has also been looking into whether Gaetz, 38, may have also been involved in relationships with other underage girls, the people said. Rep. Ted Lieu, D-Calif., tweeted that Gaetz should “resign and be prosecuted” if sex trafficking allegations prove true. Gaetz said the allegations were part of an extortion plot by a former Justice Department official, whom he identified as David McGee. The Justice Department did not comment.

Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz staying on Judiciary panel, despite investigation

Democrats called for him to step aside from the House Judiciary Committee, which oversees the Justice Department. AdDuring that time, he has remained on both the House Armed Services Committee and on the Judiciary Committee, which has congressional oversight of the Justice Department. The Justice Department has also been looking into whether Gaetz, 38, may have also been involved in relationships with other underage girls, the people said. Gaetz said the allegations were part of an extortion plot by a former Justice Department official, whom he identified as David McGee. The Justice Department did not comment.

Gov. DeSantis among Florida lawmakers speaking at CPAC in Orange County

ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. – When the Conservative Political Action Conference, or CPAC, comes to Orange County, Florida’s governor will be making an appearance. Ron DeSantis now appears among the long list of speakers for the conservative event set to take place at the Hyatt Regency near the Orange County Convention Center Feb. 25-28. [TRENDING: Plan to track COVID-19 variant | NASA prepares to land Mars rover | REWATCH: Town hall on race, obstacles, opportunities]AdDeSantis is not the only GOP Florida lawmaker set to speak at CPAC. CPAC, which has been running since 1974, is normally held in the Washington, D.C. area. This will be the first time the convention will be held in Central Florida.

Trust Index: Was Antifa involved in attack on the Capitol?

When supporters of former President Donald Trump violently broke into the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, the melee left five people dead, including a Capitol police officer. Even though many of the rioters waved Trump flags and wore Trump hats, some Republican politicians quickly blamed the intrusion on Antifa. According to Bray, Antifa gained new prominence in the United States in 2017 after a clash with the white supremacist, Unite the Right Rally in Charlottesville, Virginia. “The left in America has incited far more political violence than the right,” Gaetz has also said on the floor of the House of Representatives. Based on information from the FBI, the Anti-Defamation League and a historian, we give the claim of Antifa being involved in the attack on the Capitol a rating of Not True on the Trust Index.

‘Amen and awoman:’ Congressman gets national backlash for unique prayer ending

WASHINGTON D.C. – The new year rang in the 117th Congress of the United States and people are buzzing about the opening prayer, rather than the politics. The prayer to open the 117th Congress ended with "amen and a-women." It's not a gendered word. Amen is commonly used after a prayer or formal statement to express ratification or agreement, according to dictionary.com. It isn’t a gendered word but that didn’t stop them from being insane.

Gala ignites political dispute over COVID-19 restrictions

The New Jersey restaurant that hosted the political gala put on by the New York Republican Club was ordered temporarily closed Friday, Dec. 4, 2020, over potential violations of coronavirus guidelines. (Courtesy New York Republican Club via AP)A New Jersey restaurant that hosted a political gala put on by a New York Republican club was ordered temporarily closed Friday over potential violations of coronavirus guidelines. Phil Murphy, also a Democrat, has tightened restrictions on indoor gatherings recently in response to a surge in COVID-19 cases. New York Young Republican Club President Gavin Wax scoffed at the criticism online, saying the group had done nothing wrong. New York state reported 30,000.

President Trump should pardon himself to stop ‘radical left,’ Florida Congressman says

PENSACOLA, Fla. – Florida Congressman Matt Gaetz said President Donald Trump should pardon himself and others in his administration before leaving office to prevent the “radical left” from prosecuting them. The Panhandle Republican and close Trump ally said Tuesday on Fox News’ “The Ingraham Angle” that the president should protect his staff from what he thinks would be unjust prosecutions. [TRENDING: Puppy pried from gator’s mouth doing OK |15-year-old girl dies after overdosing]Some Democrats have called on the incoming Biden administration to investigate Trump and other members of his administration for possible crimes such as conspiring with the Russians during the 2016 campaign, illegal campaign contributions and obstruction of justice. “President Trump should pardon Michael Flynn,” Gaetz said. “He should pardon the Thanksgiving turkey.

Trump wins Florida; voters raise minimum wage to $15

— District 3: Republican Kat Cammack has won Florida’s U.S. House seat held by her former boss, retiring Florida Republican Rep. Ted Yoho. He defeated Democrat Donna Deegan, a former television news anchor who has worked to raise money for breast cancer research and to help patients. — District 15: Republican Scott Franklin has won Florida Rep. Ross Spano’s seat in the U.S. House. Deutch was first elected in 2010 and represents a firmly Democratic district that includes parts of Broward and Palm Beach counties. A supermajority of Florida voters approved the amendment to the Florida Constitution that will raise Florida’s minimum wage from the current $8.56 an hour to $15 an hour by 2026.

Conservatives lash out at Liz Cheney over Trump criticism

Republican Rep. Jim Jordan of Ohio noted Cheney's criticism of Trump on defense and foreign policy and accused her of not supporting the president on his coronavirus response. Leading the criticism was Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz, who recounted the confrontation on his podcast, Hot Takes with Matt Gaetz, shortly after it happened. He also tweeted about Cheney, who is the daughter of former Vice President Dick Cheney, and said she should step down from her post as head of the GOP conference. Liz Cheney has worked behind the scenes (and now in public) against @realDonaldTrump and his agenda, Gaetz tweeted. House Republicans deserve better as our Conference Chair.

Ethics panel clears Rep. Gaetz in lease for district office

(AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)WASHINGTON The Office of Congressional Ethics has recommended no further action against a Florida congressman who is paying a donor and former legal client $5,000 a month to rent space for his district office. The independent office has ended a preliminary investigation after finding insufficient evidence to continue the case against Rep. Matt Gaetz. The two-term lawmaker has said he did nothing wrong and that the lease is at or below market rate.The Office of Congressional Ethics opened the inquiry after news reports about the leasing arrangement surfaced in April. The office is a nonpartisan entity that reviews allegations of misconduct against House members, officers and staff, and makes recommendation to the House Ethics Committee. Merrill owns Empire Partners, L.L.C, the company that has billed him for the rent since Gaetz took office in 2017.