Representative Matt Gaetz, a Republican in Florida who is the focus of an investigation by the Department of Justice into whether he trafficked sex trafficking laws, upheld his innocence Friday, insisting he was the victim of the “leak and the lies “of his critics.
The remarks come during the first major appearance of Mr. Gaetz since The New York Times reported last week that investigators are allegedly investigating his involvement with women who were recruited online for sex and receiving cash payments, as well as whether Mr. Gaetz had sex. with a 17-year-old. The investigation arose from an investigation into a former Florida tax official and friend of Mr. Gaetz, Joel Greenberg.
“They’re lying about me because I’m telling the truth about them, and I’m not going to stop,” he said. Gaetz said during an event hosted by former President Donald J. Trump’s private club, Trump National Doral Miami, by the group Women for America First. ‘So if you see the leaks and the lies and the lies and the smears, if you see the anonymous sources and insiders predicting my death, know this: it does not really come to me. They come for you. I’m just in the way. ”
Mr. Gaetz (38) and a popular supporter of mr. Trump, has repeatedly denied that he had improper contact with a 17-year-old or that he paid for sex.
Greenberg’s attorney and a prosecutor have indicated this week that he is likely to plead guilty to federal charges in the coming days, indicating he may be willing to testify against Mr. Greenberg. Gaetz to work together, which would potentially reduce his own prison sentence while the congressman is broadened. legal exposure.
Throughout 2019 and 2020, Mr. Greenberg recruited women on sites that connect people for dating in exchange for gifts, money and travel, after which he had sex with them, people familiar with the encounters said. Mr. Greenberg introduces the women to Mr. Gaetz. It is also said that he had sex with them.
Mobile app receipts showed that both men paid to one of the women, and that Mr. Greenberg paid to a second wife. The women told their friends that the payments for sex were with the men, two people familiar with the conversations said.
In his remarks Friday, voiced against a sunny backdrop of palm-tree silhouettes and a line of wavy American flags, Mr. Gaetz repeatedly described himself as a populist force in the form of Mr. Trump is trying to evict. He also made statements similar to those used by Trump to expose investigations into his own behavior.
“I know this: firearms do not retreat, especially when the struggle for the soul of our country is calling,” he said. “Great government, great technology, great business, great media – they will all breathe a sigh of relief when I no longer fight for you in Congress.”
He continues: “The smears against me range from distortions in my personal life to wild – and I mean wild – conspiracy theories. I will not be intimidated by a lying media, ‘and he added:’ The truth will prevail. ‘
The largely maskless crowd of about 50 people, who were sitting at the table while eating from a buffet, cheered and clapped as the congressman stood on stage. About two dozen others watched from a balcony on the second floor above.
Women for America First also helped organize the rally near the White House on January 6, where then-President Trump incited supporters to protest Congress’ certification of election results, culminating in the deadly riot at the Capitol.
The Matt Gaetz investigation
The Department of Justice is investigating whether Florida Republican Rep. Matt Gaetz violated federal laws on sex trafficking.
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- Mr. Gaetz, 38, was elected to Congress in 2016 and becomes one of President Donald J. Trump’s most outspoken advocates. The investigation focuses on the relationship of the representative with women who were recruited online for sex and whether he had sex with a 17-year-old girl.
- The investigation includes an investigation into payments to women. Investigators say he paid for sex with a number of women he met through Joel Greenberg – a former Florida tax collector who was charged last year with, among other things, a federal sex trafficking charge – led people close to the investigation to The The New York Times said. Mr. Greenberg is expected to plead guilty to federal charges, indicating that as a witness against Mr. Gaetz can work together.
- The representative repeatedly dismissed the investigation as politically motivated and unfounded and defended his relationship with women in the past. He has not been charged so far and the extent of his criminal exposure remains unclear. The investigation continues.
- Mr. Gaetz claimed that two men were trying to blackmail his family for $ 25 million in exchange for “disappearing” potential legal problems. The men denied trying to blackmail the Gaetzes.
- In the last weeks of the Trump administration, Mr. Gaetz asked the White House for a cover-up waiver for any criminal activity he has ever committed, people familiar with his request said. Trump assistants vetoed the idea, and Mr. Trump said that Mr. Gaetz never asked him for forgiveness directly.
- Mr. Gaetz told The Times he has no plans to resign from Congress. But as the investigation continues, he may come under pressure to resign or temporarily resign from his position on the House Committee overseeing the Department of Justice.
Mr. Gaetz’s 15-minute speech came after the House Ethics Committee announced on Friday that it had launched an investigation into a series of charges against Mr. Gaetz. Gaetz, including not only the allegations of sex trafficking, but also the suspicion that he abused and shared campaign funds. graphic images of women along with other lawmakers on the House floor.
A number of current and former members of Congress have described opportunities to The Times and other newspapers when Mr. Gaetz smelled marijuana on the floor of the house or shared videos and images of women he claims to have had sex with.
Mr. Gaetz announced on Friday that he had appointed two lawyers – Marc Mukasey and Isabelle Kirshner – to represent him. Mr. Mukasey called Mr. Trump represents, and Mrs. Kirshner represented Eric T. Schneiderman, the former attorney general of New York.
Also a lobbyist in Florida, near Mr. Gaetz’s Chris Dorworth announced on Friday that he was resigning from his Trump-allied company, Ballard Partners. It is said that Mr. Dorworth with Mr. Gaetz discussed the possibility of running a mock candidate in a state Senate race last year to draw votes from an ally’s rival. Mr. Dorworth said on Twitter that he did not want the ongoing news coverage to be a distraction from the company’s work.
In a tweet Mr. Gaetz calls the report on the conversation ‘total nonsense’.
“As so many lies have been told about me, there will never be evidence of this because it did not happen,” he added.
Nicholas Fandos contribution made.