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Representative Steve Scalise did not specify precisely how they
might act but said the precedent was to remove members who are
formally charged from congressional committees.
The Justice Department is investigating whether Gaetz may have
violated sex-trafficking laws by paying travel expenses for a
17-year-old female, according to a U.S. law enforcement source
who spoke on condition of anonymity.
Gaetz has not been charged with any crimes, has called the
accusations false, and has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing.
"It's hard to speculate on rumors. But if something really
formal happened from Justice, we would of course react and take
action," Scalise told reporters.
"There have been a few cases where members have had charges
filed against them for various things and we've removed them
from committees immediately," he added. "That's been the
precedent that we’ve always followed."
Gaetz' office was not immediately available for comment.
House Republican leader Kevin McCarthy has resisted pressure
from Democrats to remove Gaetz from House committees while the
investigation is under way, including the House Judiciary
Committee that oversees the Justice Department.
The House Ethics Committee is also investigating Gaetz over
allegations including possible sexual misconduct and illicit
drug use, according to the panel's Democratic chairman and top
Republican. Republican Representative Adam Kinzinger has called
on him to resign.
Speaking at a "Save America Summit" at the Trump National Doral
resort in Miami last week, Gaetz said "wild conspiracy theories"
were being used to smear him. "I'm built for the battle, and I'm
not going anywhere," he said.
(Reporting by David Morgan; Editing by Howard Goller)
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