A woman told the Ethics Committee of the House of Representatives that she saw the newly elected US President Donald Trump’s attorney general, Matt Gaetz, having sex with a minor.
“My client testified before the House Ethics Committee that he witnessed Rep. Gaetz having sex with a minor at a house party in Orlando in 2017,” said Joel Leppard.
U.S. Rep. Gaetz, a far-right Republican, resigned from Congress on Wednesday after announcing plans to nominate Trump for attorney general, denying all allegations of sexual abuse.
Leppard said the woman he represented testified before the House Ethics Committee in April.
He said he represented two witnesses who testified to the committee about Gaetz.
“The American people deserve to know the truth about the person who is about to become the nation’s top law enforcement officer,” Leppard told NBC News.
It was first reported by ABC News Leppard said his client testified before the panel.
“Merrick Garland’s DOJ cleared Matt Gaetz and did not indict him. Are you claiming that Garland was part of the cover-up? a spokesman for Gaetz said Friday.
Gaetz, 42, who represents Florida’s 1st District, which includes part of the Florida Panhandle, was investigated by the FBI for allegedly sex-trafficking a 17-year-old. not charged with any crime.
A federal investigation concluded last year. Gaetz said he was the target of an extortion plot.
A House Ethics Committee investigation began in April 2021. It was postponed at the request of the Department of Justice and the Ministry of Justice. It was reauthorized in 2023 after the department withdraws this postponement request.
It remains unclear what happened to the committee’s report on Gaetz’s resignation from Congress.
Some Republican senators say They want details from ccommittee investigation before the confirmation vote.
On Friday, House Speaker Mike Johnson, a Republican, said he plans to please etick panel does did not disclose his reportSince Gaetz is no longer in Congress, it would be a “terrible breach of protocol,” he said.
The Senate must vote on whether to confirm Gaetz as attorney general a respiratory appointment may be possible. Trump called on the Republican majority in the Senate to authorize recess appointments.
The bipartisan, 10-member House Ethics Committee was scheduled to meet Friday to discuss Gaetz’s report and public disclosure, but adjourned Thursday.
Gaetz practiced law at a Florida law firm before becoming a state representative. He was first elected to Congress in the 2016 election and began his first term in early 2017. He was re-elected in November.
Ryan Nobles and Phil Helsel contributed.