A lady instructed the Home Ethics Committee that she noticed former Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) “having sex with a minor” at a celebration, based on her legal professional.
“My client testified to the House Ethics Committee that she witnessed Matt Gaetz having sex with a minor,” Florida legal professional Joel Leppard instructed ABC Information on Friday.
“As the Senate considers former Rep. Gaetz’s nomination for attorney general, several questions demand answers,” Leppard added. “What if multiple credible witnesses provided evidence of behavior that would constitute serious criminal violations?”
Leppard represents two girls who testified behind closed doorways to the committee this yr. The Hill reached out to the legal professional representing the 2 girls for remark.
Gaetz, President-elect Trump’s congressional ally, resigned from the Home on Wednesday simply hours after Trump tapped him as the subsequent legal professional basic.
The previous congressman has repeatedly denied wrongdoing in a multi-year probe into allegations that he had a sexual relationship with a minor. The Division of Justice (DOJ) closed its investigation final yr and didn’t press prison prices towards Gaetz.
“Merrick Garland’s DOJ cleared Matt Gaetz and didn’t charge him,” a spokesperson for Gaetz told The Hill. “Are you alleging Garland is part of a cover up?”
The Home Ethics Committee’s probe into Gaetz kicked off in 2021 concerning numerous allegations, together with illicit drug use and sexual misconduct.
Earlier than Gaetz was chosen by Trump to probably turn out to be the nation’s high regulation enforcement official, the committee scheduled a Friday assembly the place they might resolve if they might launch its findings.
Sources confirmed to The Hill that the slated assembly was canceled, however the panel might nonetheless launch the findings regardless of some GOP Home members, together with Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) being towards it. The very fact-finding committee has 10 members
“If he’s going to continue through that process … I think the Ethics report needs to come out,” Rep. John Duarte (R-Calif.) instructed The Hill. “I just don’t want an attorney general who’s compromised, with that kind of a report hanging out there that could be used to compromise him.”
Gaetz’s choice to be the subsequent high cop has shocked many lawmakers and officers in Washington, with some Republican senators expressing concern that he won’t be capable to get confirmed via the higher chamber.
“He’s got an uphill climb,” Sen. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) stated.
