ARIZONA

Reps. Debbie Lesko, David Schweikert mum on money from Rep. Matt Gaetz of Florida

Ronald J. Hansen
Arizona Republic
Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., (center) examines the area near the border in Yuma on April 16, 2019, with former Rep. Sean Duffy, R-Wis., at left and Rep. Andy Biggs, R-Ariz., at right.

While some members of Congress have taken steps to distance themselves from embattled Rep. Matt Gaetz, Arizona’s Republican contingent have been silent.

The campaigns of Reps. Debbie Lesko and David Schweikert did not comment when asked if they planned to keep the $2,000 each received last year from the campaign of Gaetz, R-Fla.

Similarly, Reps. Andy Biggs and Paul Gosar have not raised the issue about Gaetz, who is facing a federal criminal investigation into allegations he had sexual relations with a 17-year-old girl and paid other women for sexual favors. Beyond that, he reportedly shared nude photos of his sex partners with members of Congress.

The relative silence about Gaetz from the GOP members is part of a broader pattern of Republicans distancing themselves from him.

Gaetz is not a stranger to any of Arizona’s House Republicans. Gaetz and all four Arizona's Republican members are part of the conservative House Freedom Caucus, which Biggs leads as chair.

Biggs in February offered a preview of the second impeachment trial for former President Donald Trump with Gaetz. In 2019, Biggs led Gaetz on a tour of the border with Mexico in Yuma.

Both Biggs and Gosar have come to the rhetorical defense of Republicans in the past, from Trump to Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga. 

But since news of the criminal investigation and allegations of other unsavory behavior have emerged, Arizona’s GOP members have avoided discussing Gaetz’s situation.

Gaetz's campaign contributed to at least 41 House campaigns in the 2020 election cycle. At least one of the recipients, Rep. David Valadao, R-Calif., has decided to give the money away.

Axios reported that Valadao is donating the money he received from Gaetz to an organization that supports victims of domestic abuse.

So far, there is no indication Lesko and Schweikert plan to follow suit.

Schweikert’s cash-strapped campaign got its $2,000 donation from Gaetz’s campaign on Aug. 10, a week after Democrats formally picked Hiral Tipirneni, one of the nation’s best-funded challengers, as their nominee.

Schweikert overcame being reprimanded and fined $50,000 by the House of Representatives for 11 ethics violations to defeat Tipirneni by 4 percentage points. It was easily the closest of his five races in the Scottsdale-based district.

On Sept. 17, Lesko took $2,000 for her reelection campaign against Democrat Michael Muscato. She won handily in her district, which spans the West Valley. Lesko was named the chair of Maggie's List, a Republican women's group looking to boost the presence of women in Congress.

Reach the reporter Ronald J. Hansen at ronald.hansen@arizonarepublic.com or 602-444-4493. Follow him on Twitter @ronaldjhansen.

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