Lawyer claims woman informed House ethics committee of witnessing Matt Gaetz engaging in sexual activity with a minor

A woman has testified before the House Ethics Committee that she saw Rep. Matt Gaetz engage in sexual activity with a minor at a house party in Orlando in 2017. Gaetz, a far-right Republican who was nominated by President-elect Donald Trump for U.S. attorney general, has denied all allegations of sexual misconduct. The woman’s lawyer, Leppard, also represents another witness who provided testimony to the committee about Gaetz. The Department of Justice investigated Gaetz on sex-trafficking allegations involving a 17-year-old, but he was not charged. The House Ethics Committee investigation, which began in April 2021, was deferred and later reauthorized in 2023. With Gaetz’s resignation from Congress, it is unclear what will happen with the committee’s report. Some Republican senators want details from the investigation before a confirmation vote, while House Speaker Mike Johnson has requested that the report not be released since Gaetz is no longer in office. The Senate is expected to vote on Gaetz’s confirmation, with the possibility of a recess appointment by Trump. The House Ethics Committee, composed of 10 members, was set to discuss the report on Gaetz but the meeting was called off. Gaetz, a former lawyer, was elected to Congress in 2016 and re-elected in 2020.

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