A girl advised the House Ethics Committee that she noticed Matt Gaetz, who’s President-elect Donald Trump’s decide for the U.S. lawyer basic, have intercourse with a minor, her lawyer mentioned Friday.
“My shopper testified to the House Ethics Committee that she witnessed Rep. Gaetz having intercourse with a minor at a home get together in Orlando in 2017,” Joel Leppard mentioned.
Gaetz, a far-right Republican U.S. consultant, resigned from Congress on Wednesday after Trump introduced plans to appoint him for lawyer basic, has denied all allegations of sexual misconduct.
Leppard mentioned the lady he represents testified earlier than the House Ethics Committee in April.
He mentioned he represents two witnesses who’ve offered testimony to the committee relating to Gaetz.
“The American individuals need to know the reality concerning the individual slated to grow to be the highest legislation enforcement officer within the nation” Leppard advised NBC News.
ABC News was the primary to report that Leppard had mentioned his shopper had testified earlier than the panel.
“Merrick Garland’s DOJ cleared Matt Gaetz and didn’t cost him. Are you alleging Garland is a part of a cover-up?” a spokesperson for Gaetz mentioned Friday.
Gaetz, 42, who represented Florida’s District 1 masking a part of the Florida Panhandle, was investigated by the FBI on sex-trafficking allegations involving a 17-year-old and was not charged with any crime.
The federal investigation ended final 12 months. Gaetz has mentioned he was the goal of an extortion plot.
A House Ethics Committee investigation was launched in April 2021. It was deferred on the request of the Department of Justice and reauthorized in 2023 after the division withdrew that deferral request.
What occurs with the committee’s report now that Gaetz has resigned from Congress stays unclear.
Some Republican senators say they need particulars from the committee’s investigation earlier than a affirmation vote.
On Friday, Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson mentioned he plans to request that the ethics panel doesn’t launch its report, saying that as a result of Gaetz is not in Congress doing so could be a “horrible breach of protocol.”
The Senate is meant to vote on whether or not Gaetz is confirmed as lawyer basic, though a recess appointment may very well be doable. Trump has referred to as for the Republican Senate majority to permit him to make recess appointments.
The House Ethics Committee, which is bipartisan and made up of 10 members, was supposed to fulfill Friday to debate the report on Gaetz and whether or not to launch it to the general public, however that was referred to as off on Thursday, a supply mentioned.
Gaetz practiced legislation at a Florida legislation agency earlier than being elected as a state consultant. He was first elected to Congress within the 2016 election and started his first time period in early 2017. He was re-elected in November.
Ryan Nobles and Phil Helsel contributed.