Scandal Erupts Over Matt Gaetz Nomination as Trump’s Attorney General Pick Amid Explosive Allegations
Two women have come forward with allegations that former Rep. Matt Gaetz, tapped by Donald Trump to serve as Attorney General in his potential next administration, paid them for sex. One of the women also testified to the House Ethics Committee that she witnessed Gaetz having sex with a 17-year-old, according to their attorney, Joel Leppard.
Leppard, who represents the two women, described their testimony before the House ethics panel, which had been investigating the Florida Republican on allegations of sex trafficking involving a minor. The ethics probe gained momentum while the Justice Department separately closed its investigation without pressing charges. The House inquiry concluded last week after Gaetz resigned from Congress following his nomination to lead the Justice Department.
Gaetz has repeatedly denied engaging in a relationship with a 17-year-old or committing any wrongdoing. His attorney declined to answer questions from The Associated Press on Tuesday.
A spokesperson for Trump’s transition team dismissed the allegations as “baseless” and a deliberate attempt to derail Trump’s presidency, emphasizing that the Justice Department’s prior investigation ended without charges. Nevertheless, the allegations have stirred controversy, with Senate Republicans expressing concern about confirming Gaetz for the nation’s top law enforcement position.
Explosive Testimonies and Payment Allegations
Leppard revealed to multiple media outlets that one of his clients claimed she witnessed Gaetz engaging in sexual activity with her then-17-year-old friend at a 2017 party. According to her testimony, Gaetz allegedly ended the relationship upon discovering the girl’s age and did not resume it until after she turned 18. Both women also alleged that Gaetz paid them for sex, at times using Venmo, Leppard said.
Turmoil Within the Justice Department
Gaetz’s nomination has unsettled career officials within the Justice Department, with many privately voicing concerns about his potential leadership amid the allegations. Trump, however, has described Gaetz as the ideal choice to “root out systemic corruption” within the agency, aligning with his own criticisms of the department over the criminal cases brought against him.
A History of Investigations
The House Ethics Committee first opened an investigation into Gaetz in April 2021, pausing temporarily at the Justice Department’s request before resuming in 2022. The committee later expanded its review to include allegations of sexual misconduct, illicit drug use, improper gifts, and attempts to obstruct investigations.
Separately, the Justice Department’s earlier probe, initiated under former Attorney General Bill Barr, focused on allegations that Gaetz and his political ally Joel Greenberg paid underage girls and escorts for sex. Greenberg, a former Seminole County tax collector, pleaded guilty in 2021 to charges including sex trafficking of a minor and was sentenced to 11 years in prison. The men involved were not named in court documents.
Bahamas Trip Under Scrutiny
Federal investigators also scrutinized a 2018 trip Gaetz took to the Bahamas with several women and a campaign donor. The inquiry examined whether the women were paid for sex or received gifts and whether Gaetz and his associates offered government jobs to some of the women. Investigators also explored Gaetz’s connections to the medical marijuana industry and whether his associates sought to influence legislation he sponsored.
Political Fallout
As these allegations resurface, Gaetz’s path to Senate confirmation is increasingly uncertain. While some Republican senators have expressed concerns, others have refrained from commenting publicly.
The controversy surrounding Gaetz underscores Trump’s challenges in assembling a cabinet that is likely to face intense scrutiny and fierce political battles in Washington.