Matt Gaetz controversy: What to know concerning the sexual misconduct allegations in opposition to Trump’s legal professional normal choose | EUROtoday

Donald Trump has introduced he’s going to appoint former Florida Republican congressman Matt Gaetz to function legal professional normal.

In a press release, the president-elect praised Gaetz, 42, who has steadily defended Trump and criticized the assorted prison and congressional probes in opposition to the Republican.

“On the House Judiciary Committee, which performs oversight of DOJ, Matt played a key role in defeating the Russia, Russia, Russia Hoax, and exposing alarming and systemic Government Corruption and Weaponization,” Trump wrote on Wednesday, calling Gaetz a “Champion for the Constitution and the Rule of Law.”

Gaetz has confronted a number of allegations of wrongdoing of his personal, together with a federal intercourse trafficking probe that ended with out fees in opposition to him and a House ethics inquiry.

Here’s what it’s good to learn about Gaetz, who was as soon as dubbed the “Trumpiest Congressman” in Washington:

Who is Matt Gaetz?

Gaetz, an legal professional by commerce, was elected to Congress in 2016 to signify Florida’s first district, after beforehand serving within the Florida House. Gaetz is the son of distinguished Florida politician Don Gaetz.

House Speaker Mike Johnson stated on Wednesday that Matt Gaetz had resigned from Congress after Trump made his legal professional normal announcement, in an effort to ensure Republicans are rapidly capable of fill his vacant seat if he’s confirmed to be a part of the administration.

Matt Gaetz attended William & Mary Law School and is married to Ginger Gaetz, sister of expertise entrepreneur Palmer Luckey, founding father of the businesses Oculus and Anduril, who has funded Republican political causes.

Also throughout the household is Nestor Galban, Gaetz’s ex-girlfriend’s brother, whom he has raised as a son.

Why was Matt Gaetz investigated?

Gaetz turned a part of a federal intercourse trafficking investigation focusing on a former affiliate, Joel Greenberg. The pair had been a part of a bunch of Florida Republicans described in information studies as attending events the place contributors used medication and had intercourse with ladies who had been paid.

In 2021, Greenberg pleaded responsible to federal crimes together with intercourse trafficking of a minor, id theft, stalking, wire fraud, and conspiracy to bribe a public official, and obtained an 11-year sentence.

Gaetz has denied all wrongdoing.

In 2023, the Department of Justice declined to hunt fees in opposition to the Florida congressman.

Gaetz was additionally the topic of a House ethics inquiry, that includes interviews with witnesses from the federal probe, who allege they attended the events the place Gaetz was allegedly current with ladies who had been paid by Greenberg. A witness reportedly informed investigators this summer season Gaetz paid her for intercourse, which he denies.

The Republican has denied these claims and stated the investigation is predicated on “lies intended solely to smear me.”

Gaetz’s resignation from Congress will finish the House ethics investigation. Former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy claimed earlier this 12 months Gaetz led a profitable problem to his management in an try and cease the ethics investigation.

Former Trump administration aide Cassidy Hutchinson claimed in a memoir Gaetz groped her on two events and tried to make a cross at her at Camp David.

Gaetz has denied the allegations however claimed the pair had as soon as dated, which Hutchinson denies.

What did Matt Gaetz do in Congress?

Gaetz was probably the most bombastic voices in Congress, tearing into Biden administration officers and fellow Republicans with equal ferocity.

In 2019, Gaetz helped lead a bunch of Republicans within the extremely uncommon transfer of storming a closed-door listening to throughout considered one of Trump’s impeachments.

During committee hearings, Gaetz usually slammed witnesses, together with an April 2022 listening to during which he berated Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin over allegations the army has gone too “woke.”

He’s additionally turned his hearth on his personal occasion and was one of many key voices that secured the eventual 2023 ouster of Republican House Speaker Kevin McCarthy.

In the House, Gaetz was a frequent critic of the probes into the Trump marketing campaign’s ties with Russia, which the Florida rep refers to because the “Russia Hoax.”

What might Matt Gaetz do as legal professional normal?

Despite Trump’s claims Gaetz will usher in a brand new apolitical period on the DOJ, the MAGA loyalist has steadily criticized prosecutors investigating Donald Trump and advised they face additional scrutiny.

He’s known as for Fani Wallis, a Georgia official prosecuting Donald Trump for his makes an attempt to overturn the state’s 2020 election outcomes, to resign and be investigated, after the revelation she had a relationship with a member of her authorized staff.

In Congress, Gaetz launched a invoice to defund the investigation of Jack Smith, the particular counsel prosecution of Donald Trump on fees he conspired to overthrow the election outcomes. Trump has stated he’ll hearth Smith inside “two seconds” of taking workplace.

Gaetz has additionally advised he might go after Joe Biden’s son Hunter, who’s at the moment awaiting sentencing on federal gun and tax fees.

“We could send criminal referrals to the Department of Justice, we go take the White House back, and you never know…it may be an Attorney General Matt Gaetz down the road or someone of my liking who will be there to actually enforce the law and provide the accountability,” Gaetz stated in a 2023 interview.

What does Matt Gaetz say about January 6 and the 2020 election outcomes?

Gaetz has supported a number of baseless claims concerning the 2020 election and the January 6 Capitol riot.

The Florida Republican was amongst those that voted to problem the certification of the election outcomes, and has stated he stays “proud” of the “legitimate arguments about election integrity” he and his colleagues made in early 2021, as Trump tried to stay in energy regardless of shedding the presidential race.

Gaetz maintained even two years later that Trump gained the 2020 election, regardless of such claims repeatedly being shot down in courtroom.

Gaetz has additionally leaned into unfounded conspiracy theories about January 6 itself, together with claims that there was no riot and that federal brokers provoked the chaos that occurred on the Capitol.

The MAGA ally reportedly sought pre-emptive pardons from Donald Trump each for his post-2020 election actions and relating to the Florida intercourse trafficking case.

If Gaetz is appointed as legal professional normal, it might have a dramatic impression on the sprawling set of circumstances in opposition to January 6 rioters, the biggest federal prosecution in U.S. historical past.

How are leaders reacting to Matt Gaetz being advised?

Trump’s announcement has prompted a wide range of responses in Congress, the place the Senate will vote on Gaetz’s affirmation.

Senator Peter Welch, a Vermont Democrat, informed The Independent the announcement appeared like a headline in a satire publication. “

“That was in The Onion,” Welch stated.

Republican Senator Thom Tillis, in the meantime, informed reporters on Capitol Hill: “I’m sure it’ll make for a popcorn-eating confirmation.”