Nov. 20 (UPI) — The watchdog group American Oversight is trying to get a federal court to force the release of records pertaining to former Rep. Matt Gaetz, who is President-elect Donald Trump‘s pick for attorney general.
The House Ethics Committee also will meet Wednesday to discuss whether its ethics report on Gaetz should be made public in its years-long investigation into the ex-Florida congressman.
On Tuesday, the nonpartisan government watchdog American Oversight filed a motion for a preliminary injunction in its ongoing legal battle with the U.S. Justice Department over the release of interview records from the federal investigation of Gaetz.
Gaetz, 42, is scheduled to face U.S. Senate confirmation hearings next year for attorney general. He has denied longstanding allegations of sexual misconduct with a 17-year-old girl, illicit drug use and of accepting improper gifts.
“Sex trafficking, obstruction of justice, and abuse of power are not the kind of questions that should hang over the head of someone being considered for U.S. Attorney General,” American Oversigh’s interim Executive Director Chioma Chukwu said Tuesday in a release.
Recently, new allegations emerged when an attorney for two alleged victims testified that two young women were paid for sex by Gaetz, including one such instance in which Gaetz was reportedly involved with a 17-year-old girl while sitting as a member of Congress.
Gaetz was expected to be on Capitol Hill Wednesday morning to meet with senators, ABC reported. If confirmed, his appointment as the top U.S. law enforcement official would put him in charge of the very federal agencies that investigated him in a move that has raised red flags among members of Congress, the public and scores of other public interest groups.
The requested records — known as 302s — are FBI summaries of witness interviews conducted during Gaetz’s reported investigation over criminal allegations, including sex trafficking of a minor.
American Oversight’s legal effort arrived months into its battle to obtain the records while lawmakers on both sides have called for the release of a related House Ethics Committee report.
It first requested the records in March 2023 under the Freedom of Information Act. However, the FBI and the Justice Department failed to produce the documents.
Gaetz, who is an attorney, served eight years in the U.S. House of Representatives where he sat on the House Judiciary Committee until his resignation the day Trump named him to be attorney general.
The Justice Department declined to bring charges against Gaetz after he was investigated as part of a sex trafficking probe. However, a plea deal had been secured for a Gaetz associate.
“This is a matter of public interest and integrity,” said Chukwu. “And we expect the court to recognize the urgency of releasing these documents. The American people deserve to know the facts before the Senate votes on his nomination.”
Gaetz has been under investigation by the House Ethics Committee for alleged sexual misconduct and drug use for three years. He is accused of sharing “inappropriate images or videos,” on the House floor, accepting bribes and violating House rules.
At the center of Wednesday’s Ethics Committee meeting is whether the committee can release the report following Gaetz’s resignation from Congress last week after Trump tapped him to be attorney general.
While the details of the report have not been made public, two committee members say the report should be released.
In February, American Oversight first took legal action but to date neither federal agency has produced the requested information.
The government watchdog organization argues that further delay will deprive the American people of “critical” information on the investigation prior to any confirmation or appointment of a man some believe will weaponize the Justice Department.