An ex-girlfriend of Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) testified Wednesday in front of a federal grand jury investigating the representative for sex crimes, NBC News reports, "a major development that suggests the Department of Justice may be moving closer to indicting him."
The ex-girlfriend, who remained purposely unidentified by NBC News, has reportedly been talking with prosecutors for months to receive an immunity deal, under which she would avoid "prosecution for obstruction of justice" in exchange for testimony in an investigation concerning whether Gaetz had sex with a 17-year-old girl for money and whether he and others later violated a law pertaining to prostitution.
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
The three crimes for which Gaetz is being investigated include allegedly "sex trafficking the 17-year-old; violating the Mann Act, which prohibits taking prostitutes across state lines; and obstructing justice," NBC News writes, per legal sources familiar with the probe.
Authorities hope testimony from the unnamed ex-girlfriend will "fill in crucial aspects" of the investigation, which began over a year ago, per NBC News. The ex is reportedly linked to Gaetz during the same period of time he's been accused of having "sexual contact" with a woman who was 17 at the time, notes CNN. Investigators also believe the former girlfriend could prove integral regarding allegations of obstruction of justice against the lawmaker.
In May, Gaetz' associate and "former Florida tax official Joel Greenberg pleaded guilty to several felonies and formally agreed to cooperate with the sex crimes investigation," per Insider.
-
Could Trump run for a third term?The Explainer Constitutional amendment limits US presidents to two terms, but Trump diehards claim there is a loophole
-
Political cartoons for November 28Cartoons Friday's political cartoons include economic diagnosis, climate distractions, and more
-
What does the fall in net migration mean for the UK?Today’s Big Question With Labour and the Tories trying to ‘claim credit’ for lower figures, the ‘underlying picture is far less clear-cut’
-
Judge halts Trump’s DC Guard deploymentSpeed Read The Trump administration has ‘infringed upon the District’s right to govern itself,’ the judge ruled
-
Trump accuses Democrats of sedition meriting ‘death’Speed Read The president called for Democratic lawmakers to be arrested for urging the military to refuse illegal orders
-
Court strikes down Texas GOP gerrymanderSpeed Read The Texas congressional map ordered by Trump is likely an illegal racial gerrymander, the court ruled
-
Trump defends Saudi prince, shrugs off Khashoggi murderSpeed Read The president rebuked an ABC News reporter for asking Mohammed bin Salman about the death of a Washington Post journalist at the Saudi Consulate in 2018
-
Congress passes bill to force release of Epstein filesSpeed Read The Justice Department will release all files from its Jeffrey Epstein sex-trafficking investigation
-
Trump says he will sell F-35 jets to Saudi ArabiaSpeed Read The president plans to make several deals with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman this week
-
Judge blasts ‘profound’ errors in Comey caseSpeed Read ‘Government misconduct’ may necessitate dismissing the charges against the former FBI director altogether
-
Ecuador rejects push to allow US military basesSpeed Read Voters rejected a repeal of a constitutional ban on US and other foreign military bases in the country
