Dem
51
GOP
49
Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) was under investigation for transporting a minor across state lines (from Florida to Alabama) for the purpose of prostitution. That is a federal crime. After months of investigations, the Dept. of Justice has informed Gaetz that no charges will be brought and that the case is closed.
At the core of the case was testimony from Joel Greenberg, who pleaded guilty to sex trafficking of a minor, wire fraud. conspiracy to bribe a public official, and other charges and was sentenced to 11 years in prison. He pleaded guilty and cooperated with DoJ officials. Gaetz has long denied everything. The problem with the case is that there is no material evidence, just Greenberg's word for it. In a trial, Gaetz' attorneys would claim that Greenberg is lying in order to get a lighter sentence. It would be the word of someone who has pleaded guilty to multiple crimes vs. someone who claims he is completely innocent. Could the DoJ convince 12 jurors beyond a reasonable doubt that Gaetz is the liar and not Greenberg? Apparently they didn't think so, so they dropped the case. The result is that Gaetz gets to be in the House while his buddy is in the Big House for the next decade, even though they probably did the same thing. (V)