The House Ethics Committee has initiated a new round of outreach in their investigation into Congressman Matt Gaetz. They have reached out to a woman who was allegedly involved in a sexual relationship with Gaetz when she was 17 years old. Additionally, they have reached out to the Justice Department, seeking materials from their previous investigation into the congressman.
The investigation into Gaetz began under former Attorney General Bill Barr, and it lasted for several years. It initially focused on allegations of sex with an underage girl but later expanded to include possible sex trafficking, lobbying violations, and obstruction of justice. However, last year it was revealed that Gaetz would not be charged, as the Justice Department did not pursue any charges.
In response to the Ethics Committee's inquiry and outreach, Gaetz has vehemently denied the allegations and has accused those spreading the accusations of being exposed, indicted, and imprisoned for spreading falsehoods.
It is important to note that the Justice Department is not required to comply with the committee's request for documents since no charges were ever filed. Materials gathered during a criminal investigation are typically deemed confidential. It is unlikely that the DOJ will provide significant information to the committee, as they are cautious about releasing materials that did not result in charges.
The House Ethics Committee, currently controlled by Republicans, initially launched the investigation in 2021 but yielded to the federal probe when it became public. However, with the federal investigation concluding last year without any charges, the committee has resumed its own investigation. Gaetz has privately expressed frustration and reportedly blames former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy for allowing the ethics probe to continue. McCarthy, on the other hand, has publicly suggested that Gaetz's annoyance with the probe may have influenced his push to remove McCarthy from the speakership.
In other news, former President Donald Trump is expected to testify in the ongoing civil defamation trial brought by E. Jean Carroll in New York. However, there is uncertainty regarding his actual testimony, as he has previously backed out at the last minute. Should Trump testify, he will need to adhere to certain parameters as a witness in a damages case. Violating these parameters could result in potential sanctions or disruptions during the trial. The trial is expected to last for about two more days, with closing statements, jury instructions, and deliberations to follow.
