Democrats on the Senate Judiciary Committee are requesting the Justice Department to release materials from its investigation into allegations of sexual misconduct and other crimes against former Rep. Matt Gaetz, who is President-elect Donald Trump's pick for attorney general. The department decided not to charge Gaetz, but the House Ethics committee is also involved in a probe related to these allegations.
In a letter to FBI director Chris Wray, Democrats led by Judiciary Chair Dick Durbin asked for the criminal investigation's complete evidentiary file, including formal notes from FBI interviews of witnesses. They emphasized the Senate's constitutional duty to review all necessary information before considering Gaetz's nomination.
Senate Democrats had previously requested the House committee to share its report and evidence. The House Ethics committee is set to discuss the report, but it's uncertain if they will release it. The new request to the FBI highlights the seriousness of the allegations against Gaetz and their implications on his suitability for the role of attorney general.
Gaetz has denied all allegations, including the accusation of engaging in sexual activity with a minor in 2017. A spokesperson for Gaetz pointed out that the Justice Department and the committee cleared him of any wrongdoing. While the Justice Department typically does not provide investigatory materials, there have been instances, such as the Hillary Clinton email investigation, where some records were shared with lawmakers.
