As a part of its ongoing investigation into Rep. Matt Gaetz, the Home Ethics Committee not too long ago issued a subpoena for paperwork from a civil lawsuit introduced by one of many Florida congressman’s longtime associates towards a number of third events, ABC Information has discovered.
The subpoena, which has not been beforehand reported, requests all paperwork associated to Gaetz which are a part of a lawsuit introduced final 12 months by Gaetz’s longtime buddy, outstanding Florida lobbyist Chris Dorworth, who alleged he was defamed by a number of third events over the course of the yearslong intercourse trafficking probe into Gaetz, sources instructed ABC Information.
The paperwork from the lawsuit, which embody witness depositions and affidavits, may present Congress with new particulars relating to allegations which have dogged Gaetz for years, together with the allegation he had intercourse with a minor who was launched to him by his onetime buddy Joel Greenberg, who pleaded responsible to intercourse trafficking and is serving an 11-year jail sentence.
Gaetz has lengthy denied any wrongdoing. Final 12 months, following a yearslong investigation, the Justice Division declined to carry any prices towards the congressman.
Final week, Gaetz acknowledged that he would not voluntarily take part within the Home Ethics probe, which he blasted as a “political payback train,” and stated that he had not too long ago discovered that the committee had issued — however not but served him — a subpoena for his testimony.
The Florida congressman additionally reiterated his denial that he ever had intercourse with a minor. “Your correspondence of September 4 asks whether or not I’ve engaged in sexual exercise with any particular person underneath 18. The reply to this query is unequivocally NO. You may apply this response to each model of this query, in each discussion board,” Gaetz stated in a press release to the committee posted on social media.
Members of the Home Ethics Committee declined to remark to ABC Information. Representatives for Gaetz didn’t reply to a request for remark.
When reached for remark, Greenberg’s lawyer, Fritz Scheller, instructed ABC Information, “Whereas I’m reluctant to touch upon a pending congressional investigation, Joel Greenberg’s place stays the identical. He’ll totally cooperate with all congressional inquiries, whether or not by subpoena or not, and no matter whether or not the cooperation happens within the rain or on a prepare, with a fox or in a field. Sure, Mr. Greenberg will totally cooperate right here or there, he’ll cooperate wherever.”
Rep. Matt Gaetz speaks to a reporter on Capitol Hill following a vote on April 19, 2024 in Washington, DC.
Andrew Harnik/Getty Pictures
Among the many paperwork associated to the civil lawsuit, in keeping with courtroom filings, is the deposition of the girl who Gaetz allegedly had intercourse with when she was a minor, in addition to testimony from one other girl who was a witness within the DOJ investigation, plus Dorworth’s deposition and an affidavit from Gaetz’s former girlfriend. These paperwork might be turned over to Congress as a part of its ongoing probe into associated allegations.
The paperwork Congress is looking for stem from a lawsuit introduced final 12 months by Dorworth, who alleged that the onetime minor, recognized within the lawsuit solely as “A.B.,” and others, together with Greenberg and his household, labored to defame him amid the Justice Division’s probe.
Gaetz, who was not a celebration within the go well with, was scheduled to sit down for his personal deposition as a witness within the lawsuit previous to Dorworth dropping the go well with in early September. Dorworth has a separate ongoing defamation lawsuit towards the Greenbergs in state courtroom.
It’s unclear if and what paperwork have been handed over to Congress. And whereas lots of the lawsuit’s paperwork, together with depositions and sworn statements, stay sealed, current public courtroom filings shed some gentle on what alleged particulars might be included within the underlying paperwork requested by Congress.
One submitting, Exhibit 23 in a movement for attorneys charges filed by attorneys representing the Greenbergs, particulars a few of the allegations made throughout discovery within the lawsuit, together with that Gaetz was allegedly among the many visitors at a July 2017 social gathering that “A.B.,” who was 17 years previous on the time, additionally attended. The submitting states that in keeping with a girl who attended the social gathering, there was “alcohol, cocaine, ecstasy also called molly, and marijuana” current, that there was “entry to the bedrooms” for “sexual actions,” and that A.B. was seen bare on the gathering.
In July, the Home Ethics Committee launched a uncommon assertion updating the standing of its probe into Gaetz. The committee acknowledged that it had stopped wanting into sure claims, together with whether or not the Florida congressman misused state identification information or accepted a bribe or improper gratuity, however that its investigation had discovered that different allegations “benefit continued assessment.”
The committee stated that it could proceed to assessment claims that Gaetz “engaged in sexual misconduct and illicit drug use” and that he “sought to impede authorities investigations of his conduct.”
In Gaetz’s assertion final week relating to the committee probe, he reiterated his denial of any wrongdoing whereas seemingly responding to a string of questions the committee issued to him earlier within the month.
In response as to whether or not he had ever used illicit medicine, Gaetz acknowledged, “I’ve not used medicine that are unlawful, absent some regulation permitting use in a jurisdiction of america. I’ve not used ‘illicit’ medicine, which I take into account to be medicine illegal for medical or over-the-counter use all over the place in america.”
