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 that 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.
A majority of federal criminal cases are resolved through plea deals, and defendants facing yearslong punishments have a strong incentive to cooperate with prosecutors.
In Greenburg’s case, it would not be unusual for him to provide prosecutors with evidence implicating Gaetz in exchange for a reduced sentence, said Bruce Udolf, a criminal defense lawyer and former federal and state prosecutor.
Court records show that the parties have until May 15 to reach a plea deal. If the parties are not able to agree on the terms, Greenberg will go to trial in July.
Greenberg, who was indicted last summer, is also charged with stalking a political opponent who is an employee at a Florida school. Court records say he repeatedly harassed the employee by sending anonymous letters to the school claiming the employee had sexual relations with a student.
As news of Greenberg’s possible plea deal broke, Gaetz’s office released a statement from unidentified female staffers defending the congressman.
“Congressman Gaetz has always been a principled and morally grounded leader. At no time has any one of us experienced or witnessed anything less than the utmost professionalism and respect. No hint of impropriety. No ounce of untruthfulness,” the statement said.