Woman told House Ethics Committee she saw Gaetz have sex with a minor, lawyer says
CNN
The attorney who represents two of the women who were witnesses in the House Ethics Committee probe into former Rep. Matt Gaetz confirmed on Friday that one of his clients saw the congressman having sex with a minor.
The attorney who represents two women who were witnesses in the House Ethics Committee probe into former congressman Matt Gaetz said Friday that one of his clients told the panel she saw the congressman having sex with a minor. “My client testified to the House Ethics Committee that she witnessed Matt Gaetz having sex with a minor,” said attorney Joel Leppard, whose clients sat for closed-door testimony before the committee as part of the now-dropped investigation into the Florida Republican. The committee had been probing allegations that Gaetz may have “engaged in sexual misconduct and illicit drug use, accepted improper gifts, dispensed special privileges and favors to individuals with whom he had a personal relationship, and sought to obstruct government investigations of his conduct.” Gaetz has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing, including ever having sex with a minor or paying for sex. Asked Friday about the testimony, first reported on by ABC News, a spokesperson for Gaetz told CNN that “Merrick Garland’s DOJ cleared Matt Gaetz and didn’t charge him.” The Department of Justice had separately pursued a yearslong sex-crimes investigation into Gaetz but ultimately decided last year not to pursue criminal charges against him. The investigations have drawn renewed attention in recent days after President-elect Donald Trump earlier this week announced his intention to nominate Gaetz to serve as attorney general in his incoming administration.
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