House Ethics Committee says it will investigate Gaetz over allegations of sexual misconduct

The House Committee on Ethics on Friday announced that it would be subjecting GOP Rep. Matt Gaetz to an investigation pursuant to claims that he may have engaged in sexual misconduct and other illicit behaviors. 

In an announcement on its website, the committee said that, due to multiple allegations of improper behavior including the misconduct and "illicit drug use," it "has begun an investigation and will gather additional information regarding the allegations" against Gaetz. 

At the same time, the committee said it will conduct a similar investigation into GOP Rep. Tom Reed, who is also under suspicion of sexual misconduct. 

Gaetz has denied the allegations of misconduct, claiming he has been subject to an extortion campaign and branding the accusations against him as "totally false."