President-elect Donald Trump's nomination of Matt Gaetz as attorney general has been thrown into turmoil following allegations of misconduct, including claims of paying an adult woman for sex and engaging in a relationship with a minor at a party in Florida in 2017. Attorney Joel Leppard, representing two women involved in the case, disclosed details on Monday that could have significant implications for Gaetz's confirmation process.
Leppard asserted that his clients provided extensive testimony to the House Ethics Committee, outlining allegations that Gaetz paid for sex on multiple occasions and engaged in illegal conduct. "They want the American people to know the truth and that they are speaking the truth," Leppard stated, emphasizing that the women have cooperated extensively with investigators.
The claims add fresh complications for Gaetz, who has consistently denied all accusations, branding them as part of an extortion plot against him. His representatives declined to address Leppard's allegations directly, instead referring to a statement from Trump's transition team labeling the accusations "baseless" and politically motivated.
According to Leppard, one of his clients, 19 years old at the time, was introduced to Gaetz at a private gathering in Orlando. Within minutes, she was taken upstairs and engaged in a sexual encounter with him. The woman reportedly witnessed Gaetz having sex with her then-17-year-old friend later that evening. Leppard noted that his client recounted these events to House investigators this year.
The Justice Department previously investigated Gaetz on potential sex-trafficking charges involving the minor but ultimately decided not to pursue charges. Leppard's client testified that Gaetz may not have initially known the girl was underage, ceasing their relationship once informed and resuming it after she turned 18.
The House Ethics Committee had been examining these allegations for several years before Gaetz's recent resignation from Congress upon his attorney general nomination. The bipartisan committee's report, which remains under wraps, has generated significant interest. Rep. Susan Wild (D-Pa.), a senior member of the committee, confirmed her support for making the findings public. "We have a scheduled meeting, and it remains to be seen what the chairman's agenda is for that, but I believe we should vote on whether we're to disclose it or not," she said.
Newly elected Ethics Committee chairman Rep. Michael Guest (R-Miss.) has also reviewed the report but declined to discuss its contents. Wild added that committee members have had ample opportunity to examine the findings ahead of the upcoming meeting, which could determine whether the report is released.
The allegations against Gaetz have added complexity to his potential Senate confirmation as attorney general, with lawmakers from both parties demanding transparency. Mark Geragos, representing the Menendez brothers and a prominent legal figure, expressed optimism about an expedited resolution to Gaetz's legal challenges.
On the political front, Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) warned against releasing the report now that Gaetz has resigned. "I think that would be a Pandora's box," Johnson said, cautioning against a precedent that could see former members pursued by the Ethics Committee after leaving office.
Nevertheless, precedent exists: in 1987, the committee published a report on former Rep. William Boner (D-Tenn.) after his resignation. The contentious debate over transparency versus protocol is expected to intensify as Gaetz's Senate confirmation nears.
