Before getting tapped to serve as attorney general inDonald Trump’s second cabinet,scandalous former Florida congressman Matt Gaetzwas perhaps best known for being investigated by the Department of Justice (DOJ) for sex trafficking and statutory rape.
First reported by theNew York Times, Gaetz was accused of engaging in a sexual relationship with a 17-year-old in 2017 and paying for the victim to travel with him across state lines, a violation of federal sex-trafficking laws.
A key piece of evidence in the DOJ’s investigation was the testimony of Gaetz’s ex-girlfriend, who agreed to testify against him before a federal grand jury in 2022.
According toNBC News, it’s believed Gaetz’s ex-girlfriend who remains anonymous agreed to testify as part of an immunity deal to avoid obstruction of justice charges stemming from a phone call she had with a witness.
Per reporting byPolitico, the ex-girlfriend patched Gaetz in on the call, raising questions as to whether he attempted to sway the witness' testimony.
Prior to her cooperation with the investigation, his ex-girlfriend made headlines for another phone call, this time with the alleged sex-trafficking victim, who she accused of trying to get her to incriminate Gaetz on a recorded line (perPolitico).
The DOJ ultimately closed its investigation in 2023 without bringing any charges against Gaetz, an outcome he claims vindicates him.
However,The Washington Postreported that the decision was the result of prosecutors worrying they wouldn’t be able to get a conviction due to credibility concerns with two key witnesses.
The allegations continue to hang over Gaetz
The future of the committee’s investigation was jeopardized when announced his Gaetz resignation from the House of Representatives after he was named aspresident-elect Donald Trump’snominee for attorney general.
The job that would have put him in charge of the department that previously investigated him, which some feel is a reward for Gaetz’s loyalty to Trump.
In the wake of this decision, several Democratic members of congress called on the committee to release its report, which it eventually did in December 2024.
“Based on the above, the Committee determined there is substantial evidence that Representative Gaetz violated House Rules and other standards of conduct prohibiting prostitution, statutory rape, illicit drug use, impermissible gifts, special favors or privileges, and obstruction of Congress,“the reportconcluded.
