(CBS News)
Representative’s ex-girlfriend Matt Gaetz is expected to testify Wednesday before a federal grand jury in Orlando, two sources familiar with the matter confirmed to CBS News.
Gaetz was investigated to determine if he broke sex-trafficking laws and obstructed justice in that investigation. Gaetz has previously denied any wrongdoing, and said he has never paid for sex, nor had sex with a young girl.
The ex-girlfriend, who CBS News did not name to protect her privacy, negotiated an immunity agreement with federal prosecutors and could be a potential key witness in both the trafficking investigation. sold sex and obstructed a justice investigation, two sources told CBS News.
CBS News confirmed the woman and her attorney had left court Wednesday afternoon.
Tim Jansen, an attorney for his ex-girlfriend, declined to comment. The Justice Department declined to comment.
Isabelle Kirshner, an attorney for Gaetz, told CBS News in a statement that “we see no credible basis for charging Congressman Gaetz. We remain steadfast in our commitment to challenge all allegations with the truth and the law.”
News of the ex-girlfriend’s expected testimony was first reported by CNN.
As part of the obstruction investigation, investigators were looking into whether Gaetz was on the phone with two women, one of whom was a witness in the investigation, one of the sources said. federal. The source said the woman left on the call was an ex-girlfriend.
The obstruction investigation and alleged phone call were first reported by Politico.
Many sources said that both the witness and the ex-girlfriend travel with Gaetz to the Bahamas in September 2018. Investigators are trying to determine if these women were illegally trafficked through state or international routes for the purpose of having sex with the House of Representatives.
A third woman who also joined the trip was 18 at the time, but according to sources, she was introduced to Gaetz when she was 17. Federal investigators are looking into whether Gaetz had sex with her when she was 17.
CBS News did not name the 17-year-old because she was an alleged victim of a sex crime.
Two sources familiar with the matter told CBS News it was Joel Greenberg, a former Florida county tax collector and Gaetz associate, who introduced Gaetz to the woman when she was 17 years old. Greenberg pleaded guilty in May 2021 on six federal charges, including trafficking of a minor.
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https://www.winknews.com/2022/01/14/representative-matt-gaetzs-ex-girlfriend-expected-to-testify-before-grand-jury-in-orlando/ Representative Matt Gaetz’s ex-girlfriend is expected to testify before grand jury in Orlando
