Tue Nov 19 21:04:48 UTC 2024: **Gaetz’s Deposition Leaks Amidst Attorney General Nomination Controversy**
WASHINGTON (November 19, 2024) – The ongoing controversy surrounding former Representative Matt Gaetz intensified today with the revelation that depositions from his various investigations have been leaked. CBS News has learned that an unauthorized third party, identified only as “Altam Beezley,” accessed at least two dozen depositions related to a civil defamation case filed against Gaetz ally Chris Dorworth. The leaked materials even include the sworn testimony of the minor with whom Gaetz allegedly had sexual contact.
Gaetz, President-elect Trump’s nominee for Attorney General, has consistently denied all allegations of wrongdoing. The leak comes as the House Ethics Committee, which investigated Gaetz for alleged sexual misconduct, illicit drug use, and obstruction of justice, was poised to release its findings. However, with Gaetz’s resignation from the House last week, the committee’s jurisdiction has ended. While Speaker Mike Johnson cautions against releasing the report, Rep. Susan Wild, the top Democrat on the Ethics Committee, advocates for public disclosure, stating there is likely unanimous Democratic support for release. She contends that the report should be sent to the Senate for review before Gaetz’s confirmation.
A lawyer representing two women who testified before the Ethics Committee alleges that they detailed instances of Gaetz paying them for sex, providing evidence including Venmo transactions. The lawyer also claims that one client witnessed Gaetz engaging in sexual acts with a 17-year-old. These allegations, along with the leak, cast a long shadow over Gaetz’s nomination, with Alex Pfeiffer, a spokesman for Trump’s transition team, dismissing them as baseless attempts to derail the new administration. The Justice Department previously declined to file charges against Gaetz last year. The situation remains highly volatile as the Senate prepares to consider the nomination.
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