Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL), who is currently entangled in scandal sparked by a federal sex trafficking probe, apparently now has a fresh sexual misconduct allegation on his hands.
Several sources told CNN on Thursday that not only did Gaetz boast about his sexual affairs with women to other lawmakers on the regular, he also would also show them nude photos and videos of women he claimed to have had sex with. The GOP congressman even reportedly flaunted these images on the House floor.
“It was a point of pride,” one of the sources told CNN.
Gaetz’s office did not immediately respond to TPM’s request for comment.
CNN also reported that then-House Speaker Paul Ryan’s (R-WI) staffers met with Gaetz sometime during the Florida lawmaker’s first term to discuss standards of professional behavior for members of Congress. That discussion was reportedly not prompted by any particular event.
A spokesperson for Gaetz disputed that the congressman had had such a conversation, telling CNN there was “no meeting” with Ryan’s staffers or the speaker himself on the issue.
The Justice Department is investigating whether Gaetz had sex with a 17-year-old and paid for her travel across state lines. He has denied the allegations.
CNN reported that there is no indication that those investigators are also looking at the Republican allegedly showing off the nude photos to his colleagues.
Gaetz claims that the New York Times’ report revealing the existence of the sex trafficking investigation was an attempt to sabotage a separate federal probe into the congressman’s claims that he was being extorted by an ex-DOJ employee.
