Matt Gaetz Will Not Face Charges In Sex-Trafficking Probe

Topline

Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz (R) will not face charges in a Justice Department investigation into his alleged sexual misconduct with teenage girls, Gaetz’s office confirmed Wednesday, after federal prosecutors reportedly recommended against charging the congressman in September.

Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.), joined by Rep. Ken Buck (R-Colo.), proposes that the House Judiciary … [+] Committee recite the Pledge of Allegiance at the start of their meetings.

AP/J. Scott Applewhite

Key Facts

The Justice Department informed Gaetz’s attorneys, Marc Mukasey and Isabelle Kirshner, Wednesday that the investigation into allegations of sex trafficking and obstruction of justice was over, Gaetz’s congressional office told Forbes.

Federal prosecutors made the recommendation not to charge Gaetz, a four-term congressman, in September, reportedly because of credibility issues with two key witnesses, the Washington Post reported.

Before that, it was previously reported that Gaetz would be arrested for his role in the misconduct.

Joel Greenberg, a former Florida official and friend of Gaetz, accused the congressman of paying a 17-year-old girl for sex and paying her to travel across state lines with him, the New York Times reported in March 2021.

Gaetz has denied all charges against him.

Key Background

The investigation into Gaetz was reportedly launched in March 2021 as part of an investigation into Greenberg, sources told the New York Times. Greenberg, who was indicted in July 2020, pleaded guilty to sex trafficking of a minor in May 2021 and agreed to provide prosecutors with “substantial assistance” with the probe into Gaetz. The New York Times reported Greenberg told prosecutors Gaetz had allegedly paid a 17-year-old for sex. One of Gaetz’s ex-girlfriends, a former Capitol Hill staffer, also agreed to cooperate with federal investigators in May 2021. Both Greenberg and Gaetz’s ex-girlfriend were later found to be not credible in the investigation, the Washington Post reported.

Tangnet

Gaetz, a staunch supporter of former President Donald Trump, made headlines earlier this year when he led a group of Republican representatives opposing Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) in his election to be Speaker of the House. The days-long saga led to 15 rounds of voting for a new speaker and put the divisions within the Republican Party on display. It also forced McCarthy to make a number of concessions, including lowering the number of GOP conference members needed to start a process of removing the speaker from five to one.

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