Wed Nov 20 15:50:35 UTC 2024: ## Gaetz’s Attorney General Nomination Faces Implosion Amidst Resurfacing Sex Scandal Allegations

**Washington D.C.** – President-elect Donald Trump’s nomination of former Representative Matt Gaetz (R-FL) as Attorney General is teetering on the brink of collapse amidst renewed allegations of sexual misconduct and illicit drug use. The House Ethics Committee is scheduled to meet Wednesday to decide whether to release a report detailing these allegations, which include claims of Gaetz participating in multiple “sex parties” with young women, one of whom was underage.

A lawyer representing women who testified before the committee, Joel Leppard, alleges his clients attended five to ten parties with Gaetz between 2017 and 2018, with one witness claiming to have seen Gaetz engaging in sexual acts with an underage girl. Leppard further alleges that Gaetz paid his clients for sex, a claim supported by Venmo records showing over $10,000 in payments from Gaetz to the women during the relevant period.

While a previous Department of Justice investigation concluded without charges, the House Ethics Committee’s probe, launched last year, continues. Gaetz’s recent resignation from Congress hasn’t halted the momentum, although it raises questions about the committee’s jurisdiction to release the report. Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) has recommended against its release, while other Republicans suggest a private briefing for senators. The report’s potential release is further complicated by reports of a hacker gaining access to unredacted legal depositions related to the case, including testimony from the alleged underage victim.

Gaetz vehemently denies all allegations. Trump’s transition team has staunchly defended him, asserting the allegations are baseless attempts to derail his confirmation. However, opposition is growing, with reports suggesting that 12 to over 30 Republican senators might vote against his confirmation. Democrats are also mobilizing, planning to exploit the allegations during the confirmation process. Trump’s consideration of recess appointments as an alternative confirmation pathway adds another layer of uncertainty to the situation. The coming days will be crucial in determining the fate of Gaetz’s nomination and the future release of the House Ethics Committee report.

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