New information has surfaced involving the sex trafficking allegations against Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla. According to reports on Wednesday, authorities are investigating whether Gaetz violated federal law on a Bahamas trip in which he allegedly accompanied a man who may have paid for travel expenses and female escorts.

Sources told CBS News that investigators are seeking to determine whether Gaetz joined Jason Pirozzolo, an Orlando hand surgeon and marijuana entrepreneur, in trafficking women across state or international lines for the purpose of sex with Gaetz and others in late 2018 or early 2019.

"Traveling across state lines is what creates a federal hook for a prosecution," Arlo Devlin-Brown, a former prosecutor and partner at Covington & Burling, said on "CBS Evening News with Norah O'Donnell." "It doesn't matter that [Gaetz] personally paid them as long as he knows someone is doing that."

The Justice Department has not commented on the investigation. Pirozzolo also declined to issue a statement.

The New York Times reported on March 30 that the Justice Department was investigating whether Gaetz had a sexual relationship with a 17-year-old and paid for her to travel with him.

Gaetz, who has denied the allegations, has not been charged with a crime.

A spokesperson for Gaetz denied the latest allegations and said the congressman is under assault by political rivals.

"Rep. Gaetz has never paid for sex, nor has he had sex with an underage girl. What began with blaring headlines about 'sex trafficking' has now turned into a general fishing exercise about vacations and consensual relationships with adults,” the spokesperson said in a statement to CBS News. “Yesterday, we even learned of some nonsense 'pardon' story that turned out to be false, and today it's just more euphemism. It's interesting to watch the Washington wheels grinding so hard every time one of their falsehoods gets knocked down."

Matt Gaetz, a US congressman from Florida, addressed the first night of the Republican National Convention which was largely being held virtually amid the coronavirus pandemic
Matt Gaetz, a US congressman from Florida, addressed the first night of the Republican National Convention which was largely being held virtually amid the coronavirus pandemic Republican National Convention / -

Another aspect of the trip being scrutinized is whether Gaetz was exchanging money, goods or services for political access.

Pirozzolo said in an interview with Ganjapreneur.com that Gaetz was working to sponsor marijuana legislation. Gaetz did indeed introduce the Medical Cannabis Research Act in both 2018 and 2019, although neither gained traction. He first introduced the legislation in April 2018, before the trip allegedly took place. His second attempt was made around the timeframe of the vacation.

"If there's evidence of a quid pro quo that the congressman was provided with benefits in return for him sponsoring some legislation that's of interest to the donor, then that's a federal crime," said Devlin-Brown.

Gaetz, meanwhile, will be a keynote speaker this week at a conference for a conservative nonprofit group, Women for America First, at Donald Trump’s golf course in Miami, the Washington Post reported.

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