Ethics investigation into Matt Gaetz allegations hits a snag as DOJ refuses to cooperate
The House Ethics Committee probe into Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) has hit a snag, reported The Daily Beast: the Department of Justice isn't cooperating.
"The DOJ is 'stonewalling' the committee and refusing to turn over relevant information about its own sprawling criminal probe into Gaetz, frustrating the pace of the congressional investigation and leading the committee to seriously consider issuing subpoenas to the feds, according to two sources familiar with the matter," reported Reese Gorman and Roger Sollenberger. "Currently, the committee has authorized multiple subpoenas to the DOJ for the information but has not served them yet, according to one source. Another source added that it is unusual for the DOJ to push back against the committee to this extent, especially when the relevant investigation isn’t active."
"The feds have in the past been willing to pass information to the committee so long as it doesn’t interfere with an active and ongoing investigation — which the Gaetz investigation is not," noted the report.
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The criminal investigation looked into allegations that Gaetz, a far-right lawmaker loyal to former President Donald Trump, transported a teenage girl across state lines for sex acts. Ultimately, federal prosecutors decided against charging Gaetz himself, but two people were charged: Florida county tax official Joel Greenberg, an associate of Gaetz who admitted to sexual contact with the girl in question, and Stephen Alford, who was convicted of fraud for promising Gaetz a presidential pardon.
Despite the end of the federal investigation, the House Ethics Committee, with Rep. Michael Guest (R-MS) at the helm, has continued looking into Gaetz, including not just the sex trafficking allegation but complaints about drug use and campaign finance misconduct. Gaetz, for his part, denies doing anything wrong and has openly mocked the House investigation.
"While certain evidence might ultimately be inaccessible — such as grand jury testimony — congressional investigators also have tools that would allow them to attempt to replicate much of that evidence. One major issue, however, is the timing. The DOJ’s case file would likely offer shortcuts to crucial witnesses or other pieces of information, while possibly providing insight into unproductive lines of inquiry — and thereby saving the committee a lot of time," the report noted, adding that if the DOJ refuses to give any material, it could "significantly hinder the committee’s investigation and potentially stall it," preventing a resolution before Gaetz's congressional primary in three months.