Senate Judiciary Committee Democrats have asked the FBI to make public the evidentiary file on former Rep. Matt Gaetz ahead of his confirmation hearing for attorney general.
In a letter sent to FBI Director Christopher Wray, the Democrats requested the file from the investigation into Mr. Gaetz’s alleged sex trafficking of minors.
Mr. Gaetz, a Republican from Florida, resigned from Congress last week soon after President-elect Donald Trump nominated him to run the Justice Department. He has denied all allegations and was never charged.
The senators wrote that the “grave public allegations against Mr. Gaetz speak directly to his fitness to serve as the chief law enforcement officer for the federal government.”
The senators pointed out instances where reports were provided to Congress despite probes being closed.
“In order for the Senate to perform its constitutional duty in this instance, we must be able to thoroughly review all relevant materials that speak to the credibility of these serious allegations against Mr. Gaetz,” the senators wrote.
The letter was signed by Judiciary Committee Chairman Richard Durbin of Illinois, along with fellow Democratic Sens. Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut, Sheldon Whitehouse of Rhode Island, Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota, Mazie Hirono of Hawaii, Chris Coons of Delaware, Peter Welch of Vermont, Cory Booker of New Jersey, and Alex Padilla and Laphonza Butler of California.
• Mallory Wilson can be reached at mwilson@washingtontimes.com.
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