Despite being cleared of wrongdoing without charges filed against him, Representative Matt Gaetz (R-FL) is still under investigation by the House Ethics Committee, to which he recently issued his final response, calling the whole affair "a political payback exercise, devoid of adequate due process, riddled with leaks, and now seeking deeply personal information that is no business of Congress."
To recap, an ally of Rep. Gaetz, Joel Greenberg, was charged and convicted with sex trafficking a minor in 2020. The Florida Congressman was accused of being involved in the incident and having relations with the minor the following year, which he vehemently denied.
Moreover, Rep. Gaetz produced strong evidence that he and his family were victims of an extortion scheme directed by former Department of Justice (DOJ) official David McGee, with Greenberg and the minor, who was a victim of Greenberg, acting as accomplices.
"The Committee’s star witness, Joel Greenberg, is a felonious liar who involves others in his lies," Gaetz posted to X (formerly Twitter), adding that Greenberg confessed to smearing the Florida Congressman while in jail to reduce his sentence.
"On July 10, 2024, I provided the Committee dispositive evidence of my innocence by producing a “smoking gun” contemporaneous, jailhouse writing, documenting the plot to frame me, which includes both Joel Greenberg and his victim. This was authenticated by two former federal agents who interviewed the jailhouse informant who revealed the plot against me," Gaetz's post continued, noting that Greenberg possessed child sexual abuse material (CSAM) he intended to use against one of his attorneys.
The Committee’s star witness, Joel Greenberg, is a felonious liar who involves others in his lies.
On July 10, 2024, I provided the Committee dispositive evidence of my innocence by producing a “smoking gun” contemporaneous, jailhouse writing, documenting the plot to frame me,… pic.twitter.com/EciPqoYEre
— Rep. Matt Gaetz (@RepMattGaetz) September 26, 2024
The evidence proved strong enough for the Florida Congressman to be cleared without charges filed against him, yet the House Ethics Committee investigation has not closed or formed an investigative subcommittee, which Gaetz said: "would have time-limited this investigation long ago and diluted the influence of those on the full committee who are seeking revenge."
"However, NONE of this has been enough for the Committee. It seems the fix is in. Their investigation exists to do what the voters of my district won’t - remove me from office. Therefore, I will no longer voluntarily participate in this regrettable abuse of the Committee," Gaetz concluded his thread.
However, NONE of this has been enough for the Committee. It seems the fix is in.
Their investigation exists to do what the voters of my district won’t - remove me from office.
Therefore, I will no longer voluntarily participate in this regrettable abuse of the Committee.
— Rep. Matt Gaetz (@RepMattGaetz) September 26, 2024
