Will Gaetz Skate? Florida Attorney General, County Sheriff Respond to Bombshell House Ethics Report

AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, File

Embattled former Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) has had a tough few weeks, together with his bid to grow to be lawyer common falling aside and the bombshell revelations of the Home Ethics record launched Monday. But the firebrand from the Florida panhandle did get some sure information when each the Florida Attorney Normal and Seminole County Sheriff indicated they were not going to pursue criminal prices towards him.

Gaetz’s alleged entanglement in a sprawling series of schemes and crimes — together with accusations about unlawful drug use, bribes, and allegations he sexually trafficked a 17-12 months-old lady — dragged down his nomination, mixed with the many bridges he had burned along with his fellow House Republicans. His former friend, former Seminole County Tax Collector Joel Greenberg, is currently in prison serving an eleven-yr sentence after pleading responsible to paying a 17-12 months-old woman for sex whereas additionally providing her with unlawful medicine. In Greenberg’s plea, he admitted that he “introduced the minor to other adult men, who engaged in business sex acts,” even supposing the plea didn’t mention any specific names of these adult men.

A Home Ethics Committee investigation used to be opened into the allegations and rumors in regards to the “extremely destructive” contents of the committee’s record have been swirling for months. Remaining week, information broke that the committee had taken a secret vote to unlock it. As he has all over, Gaetz denied all wrongdoing and has vowed to are looking for to have damaging details about his former colleagues launched as payback, however in any case there used to be nothing he could legally do to dam the release of the report and it was printed by way of the committee Monday morning.

The 37-page file  covers a surprising description of the “tremendous evidence” that Gaetz “violated House Rules, state and federal regulations, and other requirements of conduct prohibiting prostitution, statutory rape, illicit drug use, acceptance of impermissible gifts, the provision of unique favors and privileges, and obstruction of Congress.” Even the 2 Republican members of the committee who voted against its liberate (due to the fact Gaetz was once now not in Congress) said in a remark that they’d no problem with the record’s findings.

The record strongly condemned the Division of Justice for failing to deliver any federal criminal costs in opposition to Gaetz, which had a chilling impact on the victims and witnesses, and for being uncooperative with the committee’s investigatory efforts. In the aftermath of the report’s free up, many political observers have pondered if Gaetz may well be dealing with state expenses — particularly concerning the testimony that he had sex with a then-17-12 months-old girl right through a birthday party at lobbyist Chris Dorworth’s house in Seminole County, Florida. Florida legislation imposes what is legally often called “strict scrutiny” prohibiting any individual 24 years of age or older from having sex with a sixteen- or 17-year previous. It’s no security if the woman didn’t affirmatively tell Gaetz her age or even though she misrepresented her age.

Mike DeForest, an investigative reporter with WKMG, Orlando’s native CBS affiliate, tweeted that he had emailed Florida Attorney Normal Ashley Moody’s place of job to inquire “if she thinks a state investigation into Matt Gaetz is warranted for any crimes alleged by way of the House Ethics Committee that are not barred by a statute of barriers,” but got an out of place of business automatic reply. DeForest posted that tweet along with a photograph of Moody and Gaetz smiling together at an event they each attended in February 2020.

A couple of hours later, DeForest posted a statement from Moody’s place of job based on his query.

NEW: Florida Legal professional General Ashley Moody’s place of business just issued this remark in line with our questions about the House Ethics Committee investigation into former congressman Matt Gaetz. We can be following up. p.c.twitter.com/lDE3UzM2qE

— Mike DeForest (@DeForestNews6) December 23, 2024

The remark from Statewide Prosecutor Nick Cox mentioned, “Allegations of violations of state criminal legislation can be investigated with the aid of law enforcement in the fitting jurisdiction, similar to a neighborhood police division, sheriff’s administrative center or the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. To decide if the companies within the related jurisdictions have bought data from the House Ethics Committee or have initiated investigations, you might wish to contact those legislation enforcement agencies in an instant. Single-circuit crimes would be prosecuted by means of the state legal professional the place the crime came about. ”

As the important thing allegations concerning Gaetz having intercourse with a then-17-year-previous had been that the incidents took place at Dorworth’s residence in Lake Mary, the Seminole County Sheriff’s Workplace would have jurisdiction. DeForest received a remark from the SCSO as neatly.

NEW: Remark from Seminole County Sheriff’s Place of work in response to House Ethics Committee’s allegation that former congressman Matt Gaetz violated Florida state regulations. p.c.twitter.com/FiEcwkbpXx

— Mike DeForest (@DeForestNews6) December 24, 2024

The SCSO commentary refers to the arrest of Greenberg, Gaetz’s former “wingman,” after his fingerprints have been discovered on the envelope used to mail a letter to the supplier of his political primary opponent containing false accusations. In step with the SCSO, the Greenberg case was once became over to federal regulation enforcement and since “the statute of boundaries for these alleged crimes has expired and no victim or sworn affidavit has been provided, we are unable to behavior an unbiased investigation, whatever the findings from the Home of Representatives Committee on Ethics”:

The initial investigation into Joel Greenberg began with the Seminole County Sheriff’s Place of work (SCSO) after latent fingerprints, identified via a forensic examination conducted by using the SCSO Forensics Division, were found on an envelope containing harassing communications sent to his then-political opponent, Brian Beute. The SCSO then reviewed state regulations and decided that the crime concerned federal violations because of the use of the federal postal gadget, which might result in more suitable penalties. At that time, federal regulation enforcement requested to take over the investigation for the reason that case involved more serious federal fees. Consequently, the SCSO ceased its involvement, and federal agencies took over the ongoing and expanded investigation as directed out of Washington, D.C.

The SCSO is committed to investigating criminal task, but an investigation can only start when there’s a sufferer or direct knowledge of against the law. This requires a sworn statement or affidavit from the victim outlining the alleged crime or information that warrants additional investigation. No victim within the sexual task allegation is famous to the SCSO or has come ahead with allegations on the subject of this document. By the time federal investigators had a verbal dialog with the SCSO relating to their findings and determination to not pursue federal costs, the state’s statute of obstacles had long expired. Since the statute of boundaries for these alleged crimes has expired and no victim or sworn affidavit has been provided, we’re unable to conduct an independent investigation, whatever the findings from the House of Representatives Committee on Ethics.

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