WASHINGTON (AP) — Republican Rep. Matt Gaetz, a prominent conservative and a close ally of former President Donald Trump, says he is being investigated by the Justice Department but denies any criminal wrongdoing.

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Gaetz, who represents parts of western Florida, is accused of having an inappropriate sexual relationship with a 17-year-old girl and paying her to travel with him, and he is under investigation to determine if he violated federal sex trafficking laws.

That's according to a person familiar with the case who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity.

Gaetz told Axios the allegations against him were “as searing as they are false.”

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