Documents Outline Alleged Scheme to Extort Rep. Gaetz's Family
Rep. Matt Gaetz denies sexual relationship with underage girl amid reports of DOJ investigation
Rep. Matt Gaetz denies sexual relationship with underage girl amid reports of DOJ investigation,The Justice Department probe began last summer, a source told...
Rep. Matt Gaetz denies sexual relationship with underage girl amid reports of DOJ investigation
The Justice Department probe began last summer, a source told ABC News.
By Jonathan Karl, Benjamin Siegel, Will Steakin, and Katherine Faulders,
Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., on Tuesday denied that he had an inappropriate sexual relationship with a 17-year-old girl amid new reports that the Justice Department was investigating the alleged relationship -- claiming the probe was part of an elaborate extortion scheme.
The investigation, first reported by The New York Times, began last summer and focuses on whether Gaetz had a sexual relationship with an underage girl and paid for her to travel with him, and whether he violated federal sex trafficking laws, a source aware of the investigation confirmed to ABC News.
Gaetz told the Times that his lawyers were informed that he was the subject, not the target, of an investigation.
"I have not had a relationship with a 17-year-old. That is totally false," Gaetz told Fox News's Tucker Carlson in an interview Tuesday night. "That is false and records will bear that out to be false."
The New York Times reported that the inquiry into Gaetz is part of a larger inquiry into Joel Greenberg, a former Florida official indicted last summer on charges that included sex trafficking of a child and financially supporting people in exchange for sex. Greenberg has pleaded not guilty.
On Fox News, Gaetz -- who, according to an Axios report earlier on Tuesday, had been telling confidants he was considering retiring from Congress and possibly joining the right-wing media outlet Newsmax -- appeared to confirm the investigation when he said he was approached by someone who claimed he could "make this investigation go away."
"There was a demand for money in exchange for a commitment that he could make this investigation go away along with his co-conspirators," Gaetz said, identifying the alleged extortionist as former DOJ official David McGee.
McGee did not respond to ABC News' request for comment. In an interview with the Washington Post, McGee denied Gaetz's claim that he was part of an extortion effort targeting the Florida congressman.
"It is completely false. It's a blatant attempt to distract from the fact that he's under investigation for sex trafficking of minors," McGee told the Post. "I have no connection with that case at all, other than, one of a thousand people who has heard the rumors."
"I do believe that there are people at the Department of Justice who are trying to smear me," Gaetz said on Fox News.
In a statement from his office, Gaetz said he had been cooperating with authorities and that his father "has even been wearing a wire" at the FBI's direction "to catch these criminals" seeking to extort him for $25 million.
Asked in the Fox News interview how long the investigation had been going on, Gaetz said "I don't know," and went on to suggest that someone is alleging there are "pictures of me with child prostitutes," which he claimed was "obviously false."
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3t2SEbxYob4
"Newly published documents appear to back up Rep. Matt Gaetz’s (R-Fla.) claim that he and his family were victims of an extortion scheme.
In an email obtained and published by the Washington Examiner, a lawyer for Gaetz’s father Don, a former Florida state senator, asked the Department of Justice for confirmation that both the department and the FBI were seeking Don’s assistance.
“My client, Don Gaetz, was approached by two individuals to make a sizable payment in what I would call a scheme to defraud,” Jeffrey Neiman wrote. “The FBI is not asking Don to voluntarily and proactively assist in their investigation, which Don is willing to do. Please confirm that your Office and the FBI would like Don’s assistance in this matter and that he will be working at the Government’s request.”
Assistant U.S. Attorney David Goldberg replied, saying: “I can confirm that your client is working with my office as well as the FBI at the government’s request in order to determine if a federal crime has been committed. This has been discussed with, and approved by, the FBI as well as the leadership of my office and components of Main Justice.”
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CONGRESSMAN MATT GAETZ RESPONDS TO SEX TRAFFICKING ALLEGATIONS INTERVIEW WITH TUCKER CARLSON...
GAETZ SAYS HE AND HIS FAMILY HAVE BEEN A VICTIMS OF AN ORGANIZED CRIMINAL EXTORTIONREP GAETZ RESPONDS TO SEX TRAFFICKING ALLEGATIONSDISCLAIMER:This video is ...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f3Y0AkKM9AY
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Matt Gaetz responds to sex trafficking allegations on 'Tucker Carlson Tonight'
Tucker Carlson reacts to the 'weird' interview. #FoxNews #TuckerSubscribe to Fox News! https://bit.ly/2vaBUvASWatch more Fox News Video: http://video.foxnews...
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