Woman told House Ethics Committee she saw Gaetz having sex with a minor, attorney says

The attorney representing two women who were witnesses in the House Ethics Committee’s investigation into former Congressman Matt Gaetz said Friday that one of his clients told the panel she saw the congressman having sex with a minor.

“My client testified to the House Ethics Committee that she witnessed Matt Gaetz having sex with a minor,” said attorney Joel Leppard, whose clients testified behind closed doors before the committee. investigation now discontinued in Republican Florida.

The committee had investigated allegations that Gaetz may have “engaged in sexual misconduct and illegal drug use, accepted inappropriate gifts, granted special privileges and favors to individuals with whom he had a personal relationship, and attempted to stem government investigations into his conduct.” to obstruct.” Gaetz has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing, including ever having sex with a minor or paying for sex.

Asked Friday about the testimony, first reported by ABC Newsa spokesperson for Gaetz told CNN that “Merrick Garland’s DOJ has cleared Matt Gaetz and has not charged him.”

The Justice Department had separately conducted a years-long sex crimes investigation into Gaetz, but finally decided not to bring criminal charges against him last year.

The investigations have drawn renewed attention in recent days after President-elect Donald Trump announced his intention to nominate Gaetz earlier this week to serve as attorney general in his next government.

If Gaetz is approved for the role by the Senate, he would take over DOJ, the nation’s top law enforcement agency, and gain control of the investigative files detailing evidence the FBI uncovered in the sex trafficking investigation against him.

The Justice Department deemed the files too sensitive to release even to the House ethics committee.

Gaetz’s resignation from Congress in preparation for the confirmation process effectively ended the congressional investigation, as the panel only has jurisdiction over a member when he or she is serving in Congress.

Democrats immediately began calling for the release of the commission’s long-awaited findings — a call Leppard reiterated Friday, arguing that “democracy requires transparency.”

On Thursday evening, Republicans canceled a planned Friday meeting with Democrats on the panel expected to discuss the report, sources told CNN. And House Speaker Mike Johnson said Friday that he believes the panel’s findings should not be released and that he will “strongly urge” the committee not to do so.

Gaetz is just one of a number of provocative picks Trump has made for his Cabinet, including Pete Hegseth, the veteran turned Fox News host, whose nomination has already been approved. faced with questions about viability of the President-elect’s transition team.

CNN’s Hannah Rabinowitz, Evan Perez, Annie Grayer, Manu Raju and Lauren Fox contributed to this report.

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