By Tierney Sneed, CNN
(CNN) — Two girls who declare they have been paid for intercourse by former Rep. Matt Gaetz offered Home ethics investigators with “numerous” images associated to time they spent with the Florida Republican, a lawyer for the ladies mentioned Tuesday, together with from an alleged 2019 journey to New York.
The ladies moreover offered the Home Ethics Committee with selfies Gaetz is claimed to have despatched them, in keeping with their lawyer. Additionally they testified that they despatched nude images to Gaetz, generally at his request, Leppard mentioned.
Gaetz was not too long ago tapped by President-elect Donald Trump to function his legal professional normal and resigned from Congress final week, successfully ending the ethics probe into him. The panel had investigated allegations of misconduct in opposition to Gaetz, together with “sexual misconduct and illicit drug use,” and is contemplating whether or not to launch a report on its findings.
Requested by the committee whether or not they ever felt pressured by Gaetz, Leppard mentioned considered one of his shoppers testified that she felt the necessity to “please” the then-congressman earlier than attending an digital music present throughout the New York go to.
CNN has reached out to Gaetz for remark. Gaetz has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing.
Leppard’s account of the testimony offers extra perception into the proof the Home committee collected in its probe, which was carried out along with a felony investigation by the Justice Division. Federal prosecutors declined to cost Gaetz – a call the previous congressman has pointed to as he has vehemently denied the accusations, which additionally embrace the declare that he had intercourse with a then-underage lady who went on to testify in each investigations.
“Merrick Garland’s DOJ cleared Matt Gaetz and didn’t charge him,” a spokesperson for Gaetz informed CNN final week.
Because the Senate prepares to formally contemplate Gaetz for the legal professional normal position, Democrats and a few Republicans are calling for entry to the Home panel’s report. After Gaetz abruptly resigned from Congress upon Trump’s choice announcement, the committee delayed plans to satisfy to debate the report’s launch and is subsequent scheduled to satisfy Wednesday. Home Mike Speaker Johnson, who previously has mentioned he’ll keep out of the ethics committee’s enterprise, has expressed opposition to the discharge of the report.
Leppard famous the Home panel heard testimony from a number of different witnesses.
“The evidence that the House has, I would presume, is overwhelming, because my clients were just two of the other witnesses, and there are very important witnesses who have yet to come out and give a preview of what the House Ethics Committee results might show,” he mentioned.
Home investigators, in keeping with the lawyer, requested the 2 girls about information that they had obtained displaying funds, largely transmitted electronically, allegedly made to them by Gaetz. Leppard mentioned the information confirmed considered one of his shoppers was paid greater than $6,000 by the congressman and the opposite greater than $4,000.
“What I’m telling you is just a fraction of the evidence that’s available, of the thousands of documents” the Home obtained, Leppard mentioned.
CNN’s Annie Grayer contributed to this report.
Initially Printed: November 20, 2024 at 5:50 PM PST
