Associate’s plea deal could deepen trouble for Gaetz
WASHINGTON – The House Ethics Committee announcement on Friday that it was investigating Rep. Matt Gaetz capped a scandal-plagued week for the Florida Republican. The day before, an attorney representing an associate of Gaetz in a fraud and sex trafficking case hinted that the congressman could face serious legal troubles.
“I’m sure Matt Gaetz is not feeling very comfortable today,” Fritz Scheller said outside a federal courthouse in Orlando, Florida, after he and federal prosecutors disclosed that they had agreed to negotiate a plea deal.
Gaetz, a Republican firebrand and staunch defender of former President Donald Trump, has been the subject of controversy since The New York Times reported the Justice Department was investigating whether he had a sexual relationship with a 17-year-old and paid for her to travel across state lines – a violation of federal sex trafficking laws.
A potential plea deal with Scheller’s client, former Florida tax collector Joel Greenberg, could open Gaetz to greater legal jeopardy if Greenberg were to fully cooperate by telling prosecutors everything he knows about illegal activities the two men may have been involved in, legal experts say.
The Justice Department’s investigation of Gaetz is part of a broader probe of Greenberg. Investigators are examining whether the two men were involved in recruiting women online for sex, the Times reported.
A person familiar with the matter told USA TODAY that former Attorney General William Barr was briefed on the investigation into Gaetz last year. The source, who is not authorized to comment on a pending investigation, said federal authorities had opened a full investigation at the time.
Greenberg, who is accused of trafficking minors, faces a potentially lengthy prison sentence, which could be reduced if he were to cooperate with prosecutors.
“You’re either on the bus or you’re off the bus. You can’t cooperate a little bit,” said former federal prosecutor Patrick Cotter, adding that Scheller’s comment to reporters was telling.
“What you can say with confidence is that if Greenberg reaches an agreement to cooperate, it will almost certainly be very bad for Mr. Gaetz’s legal position,” Cotter said.
Gaetz, who has not been charged with a crime, has denied the allegations.
A Justice Department spokeswoman declined to comment. Scheller did not return a call seeking comment.