The Justice Department will not file charges against Rep. Matt Gaetz following a yearslong federal sex-trafficking probe of the Florida Republican.
“The Department of Justice has confirmed to Congressman Gaetz’s attorneys that their investigation has concluded and that he will not be charged with any crimes,” Mr. Gaetz’s office
said in a statement.
Justice Department senior officials made the decision after investigators advised against charging the Florida lawmaker a year ago.
The department’s decision not to prosecute Mr. Gaetz was reported earlier by CNN.
Mr. Gaetz always maintained his innocence during the investigation.
In 2020, federal prosecutors launched an investigation into whether Mr. Gaetz, 40, violated federal sex-trafficking laws involving women he met online and whether he had a sexual relationship with a 17-year-old girl.
The Florida Republican was initially accused of aiding Seminole County tax collector Joel Greenberg in trafficking a 17-year-old girl across state lines in 2017.
Last December, Greenberg was convicted and sentenced to 11 years in prison after cooperating with prosecutors and pleading guilty.
• Kerry Picket can be reached at kpicket@washingtontimes.com.
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