U.S. Rep. Kinzinger calls on fellow Republican Gaetz to resign
His legal team, led by Marc Mukasey and Isabelle Kirshner, will take the fight to those trying to smear his name with falsehoods," said the statement issued on the lawyers' behalf by Erin Elmore of the Logan Circle Group. Gaetz is being investigated by the U.S. Justice Department for possibly violating sex-trafficking laws by paying travel expenses for a 17-year-old girl with whom he was romantically involved, according to a U.S. law enforcement source who spoke on condition of anonymity.
- Country:
- United States
U.S. Representative Adam Kinzinger has called for the resignation of fellow Republican Matt Gaetz, a staunch ally of former President Donald Trump who faces a federal probe of a possible relationship with an underage girl.
"Matt Gaetz needs to resign," Kinzinger, an outspoken critic of Trump, said in a Twitter post on Thursday night. Kinzinger is the first Republican member of Congress to call on Gaetz, a congressman from Florida, to step down.
Kinzinger issued his statement as a spokeswoman for two New York criminal defence lawyers confirmed they had been hired by Gaetz. "Matt has always been a fighter... and he's going to fight back against the unfounded allegations against him. His legal team, led by Marc Mukasey and Isabelle Kirshner, will take the fight to those trying to smear his name with falsehoods," said the statement issued on the lawyers' behalf by Erin Elmore of the Logan Circle Group.
Gaetz is being investigated by the U.S. Justice Department for possibly violating sex-trafficking laws by paying travel expenses for a 17-year-old girl with whom he was romantically involved, according to a U.S. law enforcement source who spoke on condition of anonymity. Gaetz has not been charged with any crimes and has denied wrongdoing.
He was scheduled to speak on Friday at the "Save America Summit" at the Trump National Doral resort in Miami. The summit is being organized by Women for America First, a pro-Trump group that organized a Jan. 6 rally near the White House that preceded the U.S. Capitol riot.
(This story has not been edited by Devdiscourse staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
ALSO READ
EXPLAINER-Trump says migrants are fueling violent crime. Here is what the research shows
Trump to host Speaker Mike Johnson amid chaos in the House
INSIGHT-If Trump wins, he plans to free Wall Street from "burdensome regulations"
As foreign leaders urge US Ukraine support, Republicans look to Trump
World News Roundup: As foreign leaders urge US Ukraine support, Republicans look to Trump; Despair makes young US men more conservative ahead of US election, poll shows and more