DOJ Ends Investigation into Rep. Matt Gaetz with No Charges Filed

The Department of Justice has officially decided not to charge Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., with any criminal charges related to the agency's two-year investigation into allegations of sex trafficking and obstruction of justice, lawyers for the lawmaker said Wednesday.^[0]

The investigation into Gaetz's involvement in sex trafficking was launched in March 2021, according to multiple sources familiar with the matter.^[1] Joel Greenberg, a former Florida county tax collector and associate of Gaetz who pleaded guilty in May 2021 to six federal charges, including trafficking of a minor, reportedly introduced the alleged victim to Gaetz.^[1]

Gaetz, 40, consistently denied any wrongdoing, saying he never paid for sex nor had sexual relations with a minor.^[2] However, lawyers for at least one witness in the case were informed by prosecutors that Gaetz won’t be charged, CNN reported.

The other witness whose credibility concerned prosecutors was an ex-girlfriend of the congressman who testified before a federal grand jury in 2021.^[3] She was granted immunity in exchange for her testimony and was viewed as a potential key witness.^[4]

The Justice Department told lawyers for multiple witnesses on Wednesday that the investigation has ended and no charges will be brought, according to CNN.^[5] Gaetz’s office confirmed the decision in a statement.^[6]

Two other people in Gaetz’s orbit, his ex-girlfriend and a Florida radio host, became key cooperators in the probe.^[5] Prosecutors finally agreed to schedule a sentencing date for Greenberg after months of delays while he continued to cooperate with the ongoing Gaetz probe, indicating that the Justice Department's case had nearly ground to a halt.^[5]

The DOJ's decision was not a surprise, as nearly two years had passed without prosecutors filing charges against Gaetz.^[0] The firebrand Republican congressman has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing.^[6]

0. “Rep. Matt Gaetz Won't Be Criminally Charged in DOJ Sex Trafficking Probe, His Lawyer Says” NBC New York, 15 Feb. 2023, https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/business/money-report/rep-matt-gaetz-wont-be-criminally-charged-in-doj-sex-trafficking-probe-his-lawyer-says/4105966/

1. “Matt Gaetz Will Not Face Charges In Sex-Trafficking Probe” Forbes, 15 Feb. 2023, https://www.forbes.com/sites/anafaguy/2023/02/15/matt-gaetz-will-not-face-charges-in-sex-trafficking-probe/

2. “Justice Department won't charge Rep. Matt Gaetz in sex trafficking probe” Yahoo! Voices, 15 Feb. 2023, https://www.yahoo.com/news/justice-department-wont-charge-rep-180800196.html

3. “Matt Gaetz: No charges in underage sex trafficking probe” Daily Mail, 15 Feb. 2023, https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-11755151/Matt-Gaetz-No-charges-underage-sex-trafficking-probe.html

4. “Matt Gaetz won't be charged in sex trafficking probe, Justice Department decides” CBS News, 15 Feb. 2023, https://www.cbsnews.com/news/matt-gaetz-justice-department-no-charges-sex-trafficking-investigation

5. “DOJ officially decides not to charge Matt Gaetz in sex-trafficking probe” Local 3 News, 15 Feb. 2023, https://www.local3news.com/regional-national/doj-officially-decides-not-to-charge-matt-gaetz-in-sex-trafficking-probe/article_7b87f526-efc3-5e8d-bda2-a9ef5ea6a5ff.html

6. “Matt Gaetz Evades Charges in Sex Trafficking Probe” The Daily Beast, 15 Feb. 2023, https://www.thedailybeast.com/matt-gaetz-reportedly-off-the-hook-in-sex-trafficking-probe