The House Ethics Committee investigating Rep. Matt Gaetz has contacted Joel Greenberg, a former close friend of Gaetz who was sentenced to 11 years in prison after pleading guilty to federal charges. The probe, which was reopened last summer, continues to intensify, as the committee has recently reached out to several new witnesses as part of its ongoing investigation into the Florida congressman, according to sources.
The committee’s actions indicate a thorough attempt to comprehend the accusations against Gaetz, including potential breaches of lobbying regulations and ties to the Justice Department’s sex trafficking inquiry. Sources familiar with the investigation revealed that Ethics Committee investigators are currently conducting interviews with individuals who were previously involved in the Justice Department inquiry.
Gaetz, known for his strong conservative stance and close ties to former President Trump, has faced scrutiny for his alleged connection to a minor and other ethical breaches. Despite the Justice Department ending its investigation without filing charges against Gaetz in early 2023, the House Ethics Committee has reopened its inquiry.
In response to the news of the expanded witness outreach, Gaetz commented, “It’s great to see the Ethics Committee has interests beyond trading stocks. They seem to be quite the unusual whales.” The congressman has consistently denied all accusations of wrongdoing and has dismissed the Ethics Committee’s actions as a weaponization of their process against him.
Greenberg, a former Florida tax collector, reportedly agreed to cooperate in the DOJ’s probe into Gaetz. In May 2021, he reached a deal with investigators, pleading guilty to multiple federal crimes, including sex trafficking of a minor and introducing her to other “adult men” who also had sex with her when she was underage. He also agreed to provide “substantial assistance” to prosecutors as part of their ongoing investigation into Gaetz and others, according to sources familiar with the arrangement.
Gaetz, when the probe was reopened in July, blasted the Ethic Committee for “trying to weaponize their process.”
“I was cleared by the Department of Justice and the FBI, who looked into my life for years,” Gaetz said at the time. “Now, I believe that the House Ethics Committee is trying to weaponize their process against me because every once in a while up here I’m a rabble-rouser and I don’t go along to get along. And right now, I’m forcing this body to have deal with our debt and our spending.”
“I think all the days in Congress, there are probably in the seven years I’ve been in Congress, there have only been tens of days when I haven’t been under one form of ethics investigation or another,” Gaetz said. “I’ve never been found to have violated any ethical laws. I won’t be found to have violated them in this matter either.”
The news comes weeks after Rep. George Santos was voted out of Congress following the release of a scathing report by the Ethics Committee alleging that the New York congressman used his political office to defraud victims of tens of thousands of dollars.
With the conclusion of the Santos investigation, the committee seems to have shifted its focus to Gaetz, planning to conduct more interviews and gather documents in the coming weeks.
The House Ethics Committee’s investigation into Matt Gaetz is escalating, indicating Congress’s serious approach to the allegations. Gaetz continues to assert his innocence and portray himself as a victim of political schemes. With new witnesses being contacted and additional interviews scheduled, observers are eagerly anticipating any potential new revelations from this prominent inquiry.
Relevant articles:
– House ethics probe into Rep. Matt Gaetz picks up steam with new witnesses contacted: Sources
– Kevin McCarthy Says Matt Gaetz “Belongs in Jail,” Has Allegedly Committed “Worse” Crimes Than George Santos, Vanity Fair, Thu, 30 Nov 2023 08:00:00 GMT
– GOP Rep. Tim Burchett accuses Kevin McCarthy of elbowing him in kidneys, McCarthy denies it, CNN, Tue, 14 Nov 2023 08:00:00 GMT
– Watch Matt Gaetz Get Trolled With “Underage Sex Award” at Republican Event, The New Republic, Tue, 12 Dec 2023 17:52:45 GMT