DOJ won't charge Matt Gaetz in sex trafficking probe, reports say

PENSACOLA, Fla. (WEAR) — The Justice Department will not pursue charges against Florida Congressman Matt Gaetz after a years-long federal sex trafficking investigation, according to reports.

CNN reports the DOJ informed lawyers for at least one witness that it will not bring charges against Gaetz.

WEAR reported in Sept. 2022 that career prosecutors recommended against charging Gaetz in the sex trafficking investigation. The Washington Post reports that prosecutors told the DOJ that "a conviction is unlikely in part because of credibility questions with the two central witnesses."

WEAR also reported in March 2021 that the DOJ opened an investigation into whether he had a sexual relationship with a 17-year-old girl. Investigators looked into whether Gaetz violated sex trafficking laws.

Gaetz repeatedly denied the allegations since March 2021.

He has served as the U.S. representative for Florida's 1st congressional district since 2017.

Former Gaetz associate Joel Greenberg was recently sentenced to 11 years in prison after pleading guilty to six federal crimes, including sex trafficking of a minor. Prosecutors said the former Seminole County Tax Collector paid at least one girl to have sex with him and other men.

Greenberg's arrest reportedly led to the DOJ investigating Gaetz.