House panel opens probe into Tom Reed over sexual misconduct allegations

The House Ethics Committee on Friday said it has opened an investigation into Rep. Tom Reed (R-N.Y.) over allegations of sexual misconduct.

Reed said last month that he would not seek reelection or pursue a gubernatorial campaign following a Washington Post report detailing former lobbyist Nicolette Davis’s allegations that he sexually harassed her in 2017.

House Ethics Committee Chairman Ted Deutch (D-Fla.) and the panel’s top Republican, Rep. Jackie Walorski (Ind.), said in a joint statement that the panel has launched an investigation “and will gather additional information regarding the allegations.”

Davis told the Post that Reed drunkenly rubbed her body and unhooked her bra while they were seated next to each other at a pub after a day of ice fishing. She was working as a junior insurance lobbyist at the time during a weekend trip to benefit the campaign committee of then-Rep. Erik Paulsen (R-Minn.). 

Reed initially said that Davis’s account was “not accurate.” Days later, he issued an apology to Davis and said the incident happened while he was struggling with alcoholism.

“Even though I am only hearing of this matter as stated by Ms. Davis in the article now, I hear her voice and will not dismiss her. In reflection, my personal depiction of this event is irrelevant. Simply put, my behavior caused her pain, showed her disrespect and was unprofessional. I was wrong, I am sorry, and I take full responsibility,” Reed said in a statement.

Reed has stepped down as co-chair of the bipartisan Problem Solvers Caucus, which he had been co-leading with Rep. Josh Gottheimer (D-N.J.). The caucus announced this week that Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (Pa.) will serve as the GOP co-chair instead.

The House Ethics Committee further announced Friday that it has opened an investigation into another lawmaker accused of sexual misconduct: Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.).

“The Committee is aware of public allegations that Representative Matt Gaetz may have engaged in sexual misconduct and/or illicit drug use, shared inappropriate images or videos on the House floor, misused state identification records, converted campaign funds to personal use, and/or accepted a bribe, improper gratuity, or impermissible gift, in violation of House Rules, laws, or other standards of conduct,” Deutch and Walorski said in a statement.

Gaetz has denied the allegations and is refusing to resign.

The Daily Beast reported on Thursday that Gaetz sent money via Venmo to an accused sex trafficker who then paid the same amount of cash to teenage girls. Gaetz labeled the first transaction as “test” and the second “hit up ___,” with the alleged nickname of one of the young women.

CNN also reported that Gaetz showed other lawmakers on the House floor nude photos and videos of women he claimed to have had sex with.