Matt Gaetz once faced a sex trafficking investigation by the Justice Department, which he was now able to lead

by Junna Base November 14, 2024

WASHINGTON (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump’s pick for attorney general, Rep. Matt Gaetz of Florida, was once implicated Sex trafficking investigation He was put in charge by the Ministry of Justice and was under surveillance House Ethics Committee over allegations including sexual misconduct.

However, that investigation effectively ended on Wednesday when Gaetz resigned from Congress.

Gaetz, a staunch Trump defender, has spent years doing this involved in scandals This threatens to derail his confirmation as the nation’s top federal law enforcement official by the Republican-led Senate.

Gaetz has vehemently denied any wrongdoing, and said last year that the Justice Department’s investigation into allegations of sex trafficking of underage girls had ended without any federal charges being filed against him.

Trump’s attorney general is expected to oversee radical changes at the Justice Department, which has been the target of Trump’s ire about two criminal proceedings it made him blame him Conspiracy to overturn the 2020 election And Hoarding secret documents at his Mar-a-Lago estate. Trump, who portrayed himself as a victim of politically motivated prosecutions, made repeated vows during the election campaign retaliate against his political enemies when he returns to the White House.

Gaetz is unlikely to be confirmed in time to supervise special counsel Jack Smith, who brought two federal indictments against Trump Both are expected to end before the new president takes office. Smith is expected to leave his post before Trump takes office. However, the special investigators are expected to prepare reports on their work that will be made public in the past, and it remains unclear when such a document might be made public.

In a statement Wednesday announcing his pick, Trump said Gaetz would root out “systemic corruption” at the Justice Department and return the department “to its true mission of fighting crime and upholding our democracy and Constitution.”

In a post on X, formerly known as Twitter, Gaetz wrote: “It will be an honor to serve as President Trump’s Attorney General!”

Hours before the announcement, Gaetz said in a social media post that there must be a “full judicial press against this GUN government.” He added, “And if that means abolishing every single one of the three letter agencies, from the FBI to the ATF, I’m ready to get started!” If confirmed as attorney general, he would oversee both the FBI and the ATF, the officially known as the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

At a private meeting of House Republicans, the news that Trump had chosen Gaetz to head the Justice Department caused shock. Republican Rep. Mike Simpson of Idaho said he could hardly believe Gaetz would make it through the Senate confirmation process. Republican Sen. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska said she doesn’t think Gaetz is a serious candidate.

Some of Gaetz’s allies in the House defended him as Trump’s pick, citing his experience as a member of the House Judiciary Committee. Asked Wednesday whether she believes Gaetz could be confirmed, Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, a Republican from Florida, told reporters that many would try to “vilify” him but “the evidence will prove itself.” speak”.

The federal sex trafficking investigation launched under Attorney General Bill Barr during Trump’s first term focused on allegations that Gaetz and former political ally Joel Greenberg paid underage girls and escorts or offered them gifts in exchange for sex.

Greenberg, a fellow Republican who served as tax collector in Seminole County, Florida, admitted as part of one Plea deal with prosecutors in 2021 that he paid women and an underage girl to have sex with him and other men. When he pleaded guilty, the men were not identified in court documents. Greenberg was convicted Sentenced to 11 years in prison at the end of 2022.

Federal investigators were examining a trip Gaetz took to the Bahamas with a group of women and a doctor who had donated to his campaign, and whether the women were paid or given gifts to have sex with the men, say people familiar with the matter People He is not permitted to discuss the investigation publicly. Prosecutors also investigated whether Gaetz and his associates tried to secure government jobs for some of the women and investigated Gaetz’s ties to the government Medical marijuana sectorincluding whether his staff tried to influence legislation sponsored by Gaetz, the people said.

Gaetz remained under investigation by the House Ethics Committee on allegations that he was part of a scheme that led to the sex trafficking of a 17-year-old girl.

The Committee began its review of Gaetz in April 2021, postponed its work in response to a Justice Department request and resumed its work shortly after Gaetz announced that the Justice Department had closed a sex trafficking investigation.

Over the summer, the committee released an unusual public update on its long-running investigation, saying its review now included whether Gaetz had engaged in sexual misconduct, illegal drug use, accepted improper gifts and attempted to obstruct government investigations into his conduct. Gaetz categorically denied all allegations before the committee.

Rep. Michael Guest, the Republican chairman of the House Ethics Committee, had told the Associated Press that Gaetz’s nomination does not change the panel’s ongoing investigation. However, Gaetz’s resignation means the committee no longer has jurisdiction to continue its investigation.