By Beyza Binnur Donmez
ANKARA (AA) – Florida Republican Matt Gaetz has rejected allegations that he had a sexual relationship with a 17-year-old.
Gaetz's remarks came just after the New York Times reported Tuesday that he is under a Justice Department (DOJ) investigation for the possible relation and paying her to travel with him across state lines, which violates federal sex trafficking laws.
"Over the past several weeks my family and I have been victims of an organized criminal extortion involving a former DOJ official seeking $25 million while threatening to smear my name," said Gaetz, defending himself on Twitter.
"We have been cooperating with federal authorities in this matter and my father has even been wearing a wire at the FBI’s direction to catch these criminals," he continued.
Saying that "no part of the allegations" against him are true, he added the people pushing "these lies are targets of the ongoing extortion investigation."
He demanded from the department to immediately release "the tapes, made at their direction, which implicates their former colleague in crimes against me based on false allegations."
According to the New York Times, the investigation against Gaetz began in the final months of the former President Donald Trump's administration.
