The investigation into GOP Rep. Matt Gaetz’s alleged sex trafficking and sexual relationship with a minor has been expanded to include obstruction of Justice, CNN reports.
When Gaetz’s associate Joel Greenberg cut a plea deal with prosecutors, it was fairly obvious why this was bad news for the Florida lawmaker. But when Gaetz’s ex-girlfriend also agreed to cooperate with the criminal case, it wasn’t immediately clear precisely what value she was to prosecutors. What did she see? What does she know? Now it’s becoming more clear.
Citing two people familiar with the matter, CNN reported that “federal investigators’ concerns over Gaetz’s efforts to obstruct the probe date back to at least last fall, when the examination of the Florida Republican was not yet public knowledge.”
The report noted that “one of the people said investigators have been told about Gaetz and an associate discussing a plan to talk with Gaetz’s ex-girlfriend in October 2020 about the ongoing sex crimes investigation. Investigators have also been provided material about the alleged discussion.”
Politico also reported Wednesday that “investigators are also looking specifically at a phone call that Gaetz had with a witness in the sex crimes investigation. The phone call had originated between the witness and Gaetz’s ex-girlfriend, and at some point during the conversation, the ex-girlfriend patched Gaetz into the call.”
As noted by CNN, “Gaetz’s ex-girlfriend, a former Capitol Hill intern, is seen as a critical witness, as she has been linked to Gaetz as far back as the summer of 2017. That period of time has emerged as a key window of scrutiny for investigators in part because that is when Gaetz is accused of having sexual contact with another woman who was 17 years old at the time.”
