(CNN) A protection lawyer who represented the previous girlfriend of Rep. Matt Gaetz says that prosecutors made the correct decision not to charge the Florida Republican after a yearslong federal intercourse trafficking investigation.
Attorney Tim Jansen advised CNN on Saturday that Justice Department prosecutors have been aggressive along with his consumer. She was initially approached as a doable goal within the sex-trafficking investigation however finally agreed to cooperate and testified before an Orlando grand jury listening to evidence within the case final yr.
The ex-girlfriend, whom CNN has not named, shouldn’t be the underage girl on the middle of the sex-trafficking investigation.
Jansen, who stated the DOJ totally pursued leads towards Gaetz, disputed the notion that the congressman was cleared as a result of he was in a strong place, arguing that the evidence towards Gaetz merely wasn’t credible and could not maintain up in courtroom.
“They turned over every stone. And I think they ultimately made a decision that they didn’t have evidence to prove a crime,” Jansen stated. “And I know critics think that the congressman somehow bought it off or somehow used his power, but I found (federal prosecutor) Todd (Gee) very responsible. He was very organized. He had evidence that he believed that he was following, and they made a determination that they weren’t going to charge.”
CNN has reached out to the Justice Department for remark.
CNN first reported this week that the Justice Department had knowledgeable legal professionals for Gaetz and several other witnesses that it might not prosecute the GOP lawmaker.
Last fall, investigators engaged on the case recommended not bringing charges amid considerations that the central witnesses within the case wouldn’t be perceived as credible, together with Joel Greenberg, a former Seminole County, Florida, tax collector who pleaded responsible to six federal crimes, together with intercourse trafficking, and agreed to cooperate with the federal government.
The DOJ’s formal resolution not to charge Gaetz, who has been serving in Congress since 2017, marks the tip of a long-running investigation into allegations that the congressman violated federal legislation by transporting underage ladies throughout state strains for intercourse.
Gaetz has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing.
Jansen advised CNN that his consumer was initially threatened with prosecution by federal investigators as a part of the investigation. Her telephone was seized, and she or he was advised she may very well be a goal within the investigation. She finally grew to become a witness, Jansen stated.
But Jansen stated the issues with Greenberg’s credibility and the inconsistencies within the testimony of the ladies finally prompted Gee, a deputy chief of the Justice Department’s public integrity part, not to charge Gaetz.
“In order to prosecute a case, you have to have credible evidence, either tangible witnesses, and in this case, there was no credible evidence of any wrongdoing,” Jansen stated. “Joel Greenberg was somebody who (you) couldn’t put on the witness stand, as a prosecutor. I believe these women; none of them believed they were victims of any crime.”