Here’s what we know about the investigations into Matt Gaetz

Former Rep. Matt Gaetz, President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee for lawyer normal, has lengthy been dogged by allegations of illicit drug use and sexual relations with underage girls, although he has by no means been charged. Now, lawmakers on each side of the aisle are calling for the discharge of a report from a Home Ethics Committee investigation reportedly detailing damning accusations towards him. Gaetz and his representatives have repeatedly denied all wrongdoing. 

The lawyer normal heads the Justice Division, which prosecutes federal crimes, brings main civil lawsuits and circumstances and intervenes in others. If confirmed, Gaetz would oversee 1000’s of attorneys, particular brokers and different employees, together with the solicitor normal, who represents the federal authorities’s place earlier than the U.S. Supreme Court docket. 

Right here’s what we all know:

Who’s Matt Gaetz?

Trump nominated Gaetz to be his lawyer normal on November 13, describing him as a “Champion for the Structure and the Rule of Regulation.” Gaetz graduated from William & Mary Regulation College in 2007 and labored in personal follow at a agency for a couple of years earlier than launching his political profession. He has by no means served as a prosecutor.

Gaetz, 42, the son of high-profile Florida politician Don Gaetz, was elected to the Florida Home of Representatives in 2010 and the U.S. Home in 2016, representing a deep-red Florida Panhandle district. 

In Congress, Gaetz was a member of Home Republicans’ proper flank and espoused libertarian positions, supporting the legalization of marijuana and objecting to U.S. involvement in international conflicts. He was additionally an early supporter of Trump and staunchly defended Trump throughout his first impeachment. 

Following President Joe Biden’s election in 2020, Gaetz rapidly jumped onto false claims of election fraud and referred to as on the Division of Justice to intervene in Philadelphia’s vote-counting course of. For the reason that assault on the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021, Gaetz has repeated fringe conspiracy theories in regards to the occasions of that day and has publicly defended January 6 rioters charged with crimes. He additionally launched laws this 12 months that sought to restrict federal prosecutors’ means to pursue prices towards January 6 defendants who petition for resentencing.

In 2023, he led a profitable effort to oust fellow Republican Kevin McCarthy as Home speaker.  

What are the accusations towards him?

In 2020, federal investigators arrested Joel Greenberg, a good friend of Gaetz on the time and a rising determine in Florida politics, on prices of kid intercourse trafficking. The previous Seminole County tax collector was charged with 33 felonies and pleaded responsible in 2021 to 6 prices, together with intercourse trafficking of a minor, stalking, wire fraud, identification theft and bribing a federal official to acquire fraudulent COVID-19 reduction funds. Greenberg, who reportedly cooperated within the Division of Justice’s investigation into Gaetz, is at present serving an 11-year jail sentence. 

Greenberg’s case sparked two main probes, one by congressional investigators and one by the division Gaetz is now nominated to guide, into whether or not Gaetz additionally dedicated statutory rape and paid for a 17-year-old lady to journey with him throughout state strains — a violation of federal legislation. 

The Division of Justice investigated the intercourse trafficking allegations towards Gaetz however ended its investigation final 12 months with out bringing felony prices. Gaetz and his attorneys have persistently denied all allegations of wrongdoing and pointed to the Justice Division beneath Biden administration Legal professional Common Merrick Garland declining to pursue prices. 

“Merrick Garland’s DOJ cleared Matt Gaetz and didn’t cost him,” a Gaetz spokesperson advised a number of retailers. “Are you alleging Garland is a part of a cover-up?”

The Justice Division sometimes operates independently of the White Home — Biden didn’t search to dam the investigation into his dealing with of categorized paperwork or the federal felony case of his son Hunter. Trump has stated the division shouldn’t be impartial, although. In his first time period, he tried to quash the particular investigation into Russian interference within the 2016 marketing campaign, sought to put in loyalists on the division and pushed DOJ officers to pursue baseless claims of fraud within the 2020 presidential election. 

Along with the Justice Division probe, the Home Ethics Committee has investigated comparable allegations and subpoenaed testimony from the girl, who was a teen on the time, on the heart of the investigation. The committee reportedly interviewed at the very least six completely different girls who described attending events the place Gaetz was additionally current. No less than one was beneath the age of 18 on the time and advised Home investigators that the then-congressman had intercourse together with her, in line with ABC Information. 

Allegations surrounding Gaetz and sexual encounters with minors additionally got here to gentle in a civil case introduced by Florida lobbyist Chris Dorwoth, who had beforehand sued Greenberg and others in an effort to distance himself from the controversies involving Gaetz. Dorworth has since dropped the lawsuit, however in courtroom filings made public earlier this 12 months, three eyewitnesses testified that Gaetz had intercourse with a 17-year-old lady minor at a July 2017 social gathering hosted at Dorworth’s home that included “alcohol; cocaine; middle-aged males; and younger enticing females,” one witness said.   

In a 2021 look on Fox Information, Gaetz said: “The particular person doesn’t exist. I’ve not had a relationship with a 17-year-old. That’s completely false.” 

The Home investigation additionally probed accusations that Gaetz abused state identification information, misappropriated marketing campaign funds for private use, improperly accepted items in violation of Home guidelines and confirmed colleagues specific photographs of girls on the Home flooring. No less than one member of Congress, Sen. Markwayne Mullin, publicly attested that Gaetz confirmed his colleagues inappropriate movies and bragged about his sexual conquests. Gaetz referred to as Mullin’s claims “a lie from somebody who doesn’t know me and is dealing with the political demise of his good friend Kevin,” referring to McCarthy. 

What’s the standing of the Ethics Committee investigation?

Gaetz’s nomination for lawyer normal, and subsequent resignation from the Home hours later, got here days earlier than the Home Ethics Committee was set to vote on the general public launch of its report. Responding to reporters’ questions on information of the nomination, Home Ethics Chairman Michael Visitor had stated that the investigation wouldn’t proceed if Gaetz was not a member of Congress.

However congressional Republicans, Democrats and authorized advocates have referred to as for the report back to be revealed.

Republican Sen. John Cornyn of Texas advised reporters on Thursday that he “completely” needs to see the report.

That very same day, Sen. Dick Durbin of Illinois, a Democrat and chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, launched a press release saying, “The sequence and timing of Mr. Gaetz’s resignation from the Home raises critical questions in regards to the contents of the Home Ethics Committee report and findings.”

“We can’t enable this important data from a bipartisan investigation into longstanding public allegations to be hidden from the American folks, on condition that it’s instantly related to the query of whether or not Mr. Gaetz is certified and match to be the following Legal professional Common of the USA,” he continued.

Home Speaker Mike Johnson advised CNN’s Jake Tapper on Sunday he believes the Ethics Committee shouldn’t launch the report as a consequence of Gaetz not being a member of Congress — however stated he hasn’t spoken to Trump in regards to the matter. A Trump spokesperson didn’t instantly reply to The nineteenth’s request for remark about whether or not Trump agrees, however his transition workforce is standing behind Gaetz, dismissing the allegations towards him as “baseless.” 

“The Biden Justice Division investigated Gaetz for years and cleared him of wrongdoing,” Alex Pfeiffer, a Trump transition spokesperson, stated in a press release to ABC Information. “The one individuals who went to jail over these allegations had been these mendacity about Matt Gaetz.”

John Clure is the lawyer for the girl on the heart for the Home’s investigation who was a minor on the time she stated she had intercourse with Gaetz. He’s referred to as his nomination as lawyer normal “a perverse improvement in a very darkish sequence of occasions.” 

“We might help the Home Ethics Committee instantly releasing their report,” Clure posted Thursday on X. “She was a highschool scholar and there have been witnesses.”

Clure didn’t reply to emailed follow-up questions from The nineteenth.

Joel Leppard, one other lawyer representing those that cooperated with each the DOJ and congressional investigations, can be calling on the committee to launch the report. “Democracy calls for transparency,” he wrote Friday on X. “Launch the Gaetz Ethics report.”

Leppard goes public to element his shoppers’ allegations. He advised ABC Information on Monday that two of his grownup shoppers testified and offered proof that Gaetz paid them for intercourse and that one other testified to seeing Gaetz having intercourse together with her good friend, who was 17 on the time, at a 2017 social gathering. 

The Ethics Committee is predicted to satisfy Wednesday, a number of retailers reported Monday. 

What can we count on from the affirmation course of for Gaetz?

The Senate is tasked with overseeing and approving confirmations, however Trump has pushed for the chamber to embrace recess appointments, which might enable for Gaetz to be confirmed with out the normal course of. Sen. John Thune of South Dakota — the brand new Senate Republican chief — expressed openness to recess appointments, but in addition stated he needs the Senate to carry affirmation hearings. 

Gaetz’s nomination will doubtless be controversial even within the soon-to-be GOP-controlled Senate. A number of Republican senators expressed shock at Trump selecting Gaetz, signaling that quite a lot of them may vote towards him.

The Senate Judiciary Committee will overview Gaetz’s document and {qualifications}, and can name Gaetz, and witnesses for and towards his nomination, to testify beneath oath in public affirmation hearings. 

Democratic Sen. Chris Coons, a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, stated on “Fox Information Sunday” that the Home Ethics report is “related” to the committee’s overview of Gaetz’s nomination. 

“It’s referred to as our recommendation and consent position to make it possible for a president-elect principally will get their alternative, their nominees, however doesn’t get to place folks in who’re unqualified or who lack the requisite character and capabilities to guide an extremely vital company just like the Division of Justice,” he stated. 

If a majority on the Senate Judiciary Committee votes to advance Gaetz’s nomination, it can go to the total Senate for a vote the place a easy majority should vote to verify him to the place.

Initially revealed by The nineteenth