Justice Department drops sex trafficking probe of Rep. Matt Gaetz without charges, lawyers say
WASHINGTON – The Justice Department has formally decided not to charge firebrand Republican Rep. Matt Gaetz in a sex trafficking investigation, the lawmaker's lawyers said Wednesday.
"We have just spoken with the DOJ and have been informed that they have concluded their investigation into Congressman Gaetz and allegations related to sex trafficking and obstruction of justice, and they have determined not to bring any charges against him," attorneys Marc Mukasey and Isabelle Kirshner said.
Gaetz's office also issued a brief statement acknowledging the Justice Department's contact with the lawmaker's attorneys.
The department did not immediately comment. The decision was first reported by CNN.
Gaetz, R-Fla., has been under investigation for years on suspicion of having sex with a 17-year-old girl and allegedly paying for her to travel with him. But Gaetz, 40, said he cooperated with federal investigators and strongly denied the allegations.
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The Gaetz inquiry was launched following the arrest of Joel Greenberg, formerly a Gaetz family friend and Florida tax collector. As part of a plea agreement, Greenberg was sentenced to 11 years in prison for sex trafficking of a minor and other offenses. He pleaded guilty to six federal crimes, including identity theft, stalking, wire fraud and conspiracy to bribe a public official. Prosecutors said he paid at least one girl to have sex with him and other men.
Greenberg's lawyer didn't immediately respond to a request for comment.
The Justice Department leadership made a final decision not to pursue charges against Gaetz after investigators recommended not moving forward in the fall. The investigators had warned that two key witnesses were unreliable.
The investigation coincided with Gaetz’s rise to national prominence as a vocal supporter of former President Donald Trump and antagonist to congressional Democrats.
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Gaetz, who represents the the western end of the Florida Panhandle, including Pensacola, serves on the Armed Services and Judiciary committees, including a new subcommittee on the weaponization of the federal government.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: DOJ closes sex trafficking investigation of Matt Gaetz without charges
