Confidential testimony involving former Congressman Matt Gaetz has been unlawfully accessed, casting shadows on his nomination for attorney general amid past allegations of sexual misconduct.
The Associated Press reported that Gaetz is facing new challenges in his nomination as attorney general following a breach of sensitive legal documents.
Recently, an unauthorized access incident targeted confidential testimonies linked to Matt Gaetz. This breach was initially reported by The New York Times, involving sensitive information from a defamation lawsuit.
These documents included unredacted depositions revealing allegations against Gaetz by two women. One woman alleged that Gaetz had sexual relations with her when she was 17, a claim witnessed by another party.
Joel Leppard, an attorney connected to the case, confirmed that the breach was disclosed to lawyers involved in related legal proceedings this week.
Former Rep. Matt Gaetz, who recently resigned from Congress, has been under intense scrutiny over the years. The Justice Department previously investigated allegations of sex trafficking against him but filed no charges.
Despite the lack of charges, several Republican senators have expressed concerns about his suitability for the high-profile role of attorney general.
Donald Trump, who nominated Gaetz, defended him as well-suited to combat what he termed "systemic corruption" within the Justice Department.
As the breach surfaces, it coincides with resumed investigations by the House Ethics Committee into Gaetz’s conduct. These inquiries were briefly paused at the request of the Justice Department during its investigation.
The Ethics Committee's probe has since widened to include allegations of sexual misconduct, drug use, improper gifts, and potential obstruction of governmental probes.
Attorney Joel Leppard revealed that two women had testified to the Ethics Committee that they were paid by Gaetz for sexual encounters starting in 2017.
The leak could significantly complicate Gaetz’s confirmation process. Senators already wary of his past are now faced with this recent security breach, potentially influencing their vote.
The breached files stem from a defamation case involving Joel Greenberg, a former ally of Gaetz who admitted to sex trafficking of a minor and was sentenced to 11 years in prison last year.
This incident of unauthorized access, attributed to an individual identified only as "Altam Beezley," has raised additional questions about the security of sensitive legal documents.
When approached about the allegations and the breach, Gaetz declined to respond to inquiries. His attorney stated simply, "[He] would not answer any questions."
A spokesperson for the Trump transition team described the allegations as "baseless," intended to derail what they call the "second Trump administration."
They reiterated that the lengthy investigation by the Justice Department into Gaetz concluded without any charges, asserting his innocence of the wrongdoing previously alleged.
