Former federal prosecutor says ‘drug-fueled orgies’ give Gaetz ‘0 chance’ of confirmation

Former US Attorney Harry Litman says former Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.), who subsequently resigned from Congress President-elect Donald Trump nominated him to be its attorney general has “zero chance” of passing a required background check by the FBI.

Gaetz once was the subject of a sex trafficking investigation by the Justice Department he is charged with leading, as well as a House Ethics Committee investigation into his alleged misconduct, including allegations that he used drugs like MDMA. The DOJ ultimately declined to press charges and investigate the House of Representatives ended effectively when Gaetz resignedbut the Republican will still need to be vetted before securing his new job.

In an appearance on MSNBC“S”All in with Chris Hayes”, Litman denounced the nomination.

‘There are tens of thousands of professionals working at the Ministry of Justice’ he said on Friday, per Mediaite. “None of them could be hired for their jobs if they did what Matt Gaetz is accused of. MDMA is a damn Schedule 1 controlled substance.

“Anyone who did that after law school would be absolutely disqualified,” Litman continued.

The ethics committee launched their 2021 probe to assess whether Gaetz had engaged in sexual misconduct, used illegal drugs and obstructed government efforts to investigate him. He was specifically accused of it having sex with a 17 year old and travel with her across state lines.

The probe was paused as the Justice Department pursued similar charges against Gaetz until 2023, when prosecutors announced that he would not be prosecuted. However, a former employee of his was convicted of the charges in 2022 including sex trafficking of a minor.

“Joel Greenberg (is) rotting in jail for the same thing Matt Gaetz did,” Litman said Friday, “What does he have on him that he can blackmail? What girls, little or not, can come forward about their drug-fueled orgies, and Matt Gaetz denies them all?”

“For character, for national security, there is zero, zero chance that anyone who did that, let alone what a background check would turn up… could even take the first step toward an appointment at the lowest professional level of the Ministry of Justice. Litman said Friday.

Former Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.) said Thursday that is likely the case more than enough senators opposed it on Gaetz’s nomination to prevent him from being confirmed in the Senate. Several legislators already called that the ethics committee publishes its findings.

Trump has now stated that he will make “recess appointments.” to bypass Senate confirmation requirements for his appointments, which would potentially smooth Gaetz’s path, while House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) said Friday that he will “strongly request” the House ethics report is buried.

Need help? Visit RAINN’s National Online Sexual Assault Hotline or the Website of the National Resource Center for Sexual Violence.