Senate Judiciary Democrats Request FBI File On Matt Gaetz
Democrats on the Senate Judiciary Committee asked the FBI on Wednesday to hand over the “complete evidentiary file” on attorney general nominee Matt Gaetz, who’s been accused of sex trafficking a minor, illicit drug use and other crimes.
The letter, signed by 10 lawmakers, asks FBI Director Christopher Wray to provide the committee with the file from the agency’s past investigation into the former Florida congressman so that they may fulfill their “constitutional duty” to vet President-elect Donald Trump’s pick for the country’s highest law enforcement position.
“The grave public allegations against Mr. Gaetz speak directly to his fitness to serve as the chief law enforcement officer for the federal government,” the letter says. “The unanswered questions regarding Mr. Gaetz’s alleged conduct are particularly significant given that his associate, Joel Greenberg, pleaded guilty to the sex trafficking charge for which Mr. Gaetz was also investigated.”
The Department of Justice, which oversees the FBI, ended its probe into Gaetz last year without filing charges. The investigation reportedly stalled because of concerns about the credibility of two key witnesses. Gaetz has denied the allegations against him.
The letter’s signatories argue that there is “substantial precedent” for the FBI providing lawmakers with “materials concerning both open and closed investigations,” including testimony and memos. They cited eight examples.
“In order for the Senate to perform its constitutional duty in this instance, we must be able to thoroughly review all relevant materials that speak to the credibility of these serious allegations against Gaetz,” the letter concludes.
All Democrats on the committee except Sen. Jon Ossoff (D-Ga.) signed the letter.
While that Justice Department’s probe came to a close last year, the House Ethics Committee continued its separate investigation into Gaetz and was gearing up to release its report on him publicly. But the committee was forced to cease its probe last week when Gaetz abruptly resigned from office. He said doing so would allow his replacement to take office in time for the next Congress.
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The House Ethics Committee is meeting Wednesday to discuss whether to release its report on Gaetz, despite protestations from House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.).
Earlier this week, a lawyer told media outlets that two women he’s representing testified before the committee that Gaetz paid them for sex and that one of them witnessed him having sex with a 17-year-old girl in 2017.
