Former federal prosecutor Harry Litman says former Rep. Matt Gaetz would fail a background check for an entry-level position at the Justice Department, which President-elect Donald Trump wants him to run.
Mr. Gaetz’s nomination as top law enforcement officer came after a House ethics investigation regarding accusations of sexual relations with a minor and illicit drug use, none of which led to charges.
Mr. Litman, a former U.S. attorney appointed by former President Bill Clinton, argued during an appearance on MSNBC’s “All In” on Friday that there are “tens of thousands of professionals” at the DOJ, and none would have been hired if they were accused of what Mr. Gaetz has been.
Mr. Gaetz has frequently accused the DOJ of politically motivated investigations and prosecutions and has called for abolishing the FBI.
Mr. Litman continued his tirade on the liberal TV station, saying, “What does that mean to any FBI agent, who, of course, he abhors? National security risk. Joel Greenberg [is] rotting in jail for the same thing Matt Gaetz did. Eleven years in Florida. What does he have on him that he can blackmail? What girls — minor or not — can come forward about their drug-fueled orgies, every single one that Matt Gaetz denies.”
Mr. Litman added, “What else was he doing, you know, bragging on the [House] floor, showing pictures of sexual conquest? For character in national security, there is zero, zero chance that anyone who had done that, much less what a background investigation would turn up … could even get the first step toward an appointment at the lowest professional level of the Department of Justice, not to mention attorney general.”
Whether the Senate will confirm Mr. Gaetz is up in the air. His critics in the House GOP predicted he has no chance, while Senate Republicans, who just clinched control of the upper chamber, question what’s in the House Ethics Committee’s pending report.
The former lawmaker does have some GOP senators in his corner, including Mr. Trump’s pick for Secretary of State Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida and Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, who called on Republicans to “give Matt a chance.”
The Justice Department closed its investigation into sex trafficking allegations involving underage girls with no federal charges against Mr. Gaetz last year, and he has denied any wrongdoing. And Mr. Gaetz’s resignation earlier this week effectively ended the House panel’s investigation into his alleged conduct, and with it, a report detailing their exact findings.
House Ethics Committee Chairman Michael Guest, Mississippi Republican, says he has no intention of releasing the probe’s report now that Mr. Gaetz is no longer in Congress.
House Speaker Mike Johnson, Louisiana Republican, said he would “strongly suggest” to Mr. Guest that the report not be made public, arguing that it would be a breach of protocol and tradition.
But Sen. John Cornyn, Texas Republican and a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee that will oversee Mr. Gaetz’s confirmation, wants to see what’s in that report and has floated going so far as subpoenaing the panel to get it.
• Alex Miller can be reached at amiller@washingtontimes.com.
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