"FEC dismisses complaint alleging Gaetz misused campaign funds for trafficking defense"

The Federal Election Commission (FEC) has dismissed a complaint against Rep. Matt Gaetz, who was accused of using campaign funds to pay for attorneys during a federal investigation into allegations of sex trafficking. The FEC voted 5-0 to toss the complaint filed by Gaetz's political rival, Cris Dosev. The commission's attorneys concluded that the campaign's payments did not go towards Gaetz's personal legal representation and that the campaign could hire a lawyer to address allegations of improper use of campaign funds. Gaetz's campaign paid nearly $200,000 in legal fees between November 2020 and October 2021. The Justice Department ended its investigation into Gaetz in February, and he has consistently maintained his innocence.