Matt Gaetz's ex testifies to grand jury in 'major development' for sex trafficking probe


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.
Gaetz himself has never been charged and has repeatedly denied any and all accusations.
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.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Brigid Kennedy worked at The Week from 2021 to 2023 as a staff writer, junior editor and then story editor, with an interest in U.S. politics, the economy and the music industry.
-
DC sues Trump to end Guard 'occupation'
Speed Read D.C. Attorney General Brian Schwalb argues that the unsolicited military presence violates the law
-
RFK Jr. faces bipartisan heat in Senate hearing
Speed Read The health secretary defended his leadership amid CDC turmoil and deflected questions about the restricted availability of vaccines
-
White House defends boat strike as legal doubts mount
Speed Read Experts say there was no legal justification for killing 11 alleged drug-traffickers
-
Epstein accusers urge full file release, hint at own list
speed read A rally was organized by Reps. Ro Khanna and Thomas Massie, who are hoping to force a vote on their Epstein Files Transparency Act
-
Court hands Harvard a win in Trump funding battle
Speed Read The Trump administration was ordered to restore Harvard's $2 billion in research grants
-
Florida aims to end all state vaccine requirements
Speed Read Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. continues to cut vaccine access and install anti-vaccine activists at the FDA and CDC
-
US kills 11 on 'drug-carrying boat' off Venezuela
Speed Read Trump claimed those killed in the strike were 'positively identified Tren de Aragua Narcoterrorists' shipping drugs to the US
-
Trump vows to send federal forces to Chicago, Baltimore
Speed Read The announcement followed a California judge ruling that Trump's LA troop deployment was illegal