Authorities from the Sunshine State signaled they may not have grounds to pursue charges against former Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz after the House Ethics Committee released a bombshell report accusing him of sexual misconduct.
The committee’s report, published in full on Monday, claimed there was “substantial evidence” that Gaetz had paid several women, including at least one minor, to have sex with him. The ethics report also alleged the former lawmaker had violated multiple Florida laws that prohibit prostitution and sex with a minor.
However, Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody’s office indicated on Monday that any state charges would have to be pursued by local law enforcement in the “appropriate jurisdiction.”
“Allegations of violations of state criminal law would be investigated by law enforcement in the appropriate jurisdiction, such as a local police department, sheriff’s office or the Florida Department of Law Enforcement,” Moody’s office said via a statement from state prosecutor Nick Cox.
Cox continued, “To determine if the agencies in the relevant jurisdictions have received information from the House Ethics Committee or have initiated investigations, you would need to contact those law enforcement agencies directly. Single-circuit crimes would be prosecuted by the state attorney where the crime occurred.”
Authorities in Seminole County, the local sheriff’s office in question, said Monday that they are “unable to conduct an independent investigation,” regardless of the Ethics Committee report’s findings, according to Mike DeForest, an investigative reporter with a local Florida news station.
The Seminole County Sheriff’s Office also downplayed speculation that charges might be forthcoming in comments to DeForest.
The sheriff’s office could be involved in a criminal case because it has jurisdiction over Lake Mary, Florida, where Gaetz allegedly had sex with a minor. One alleged incident took place at the home of Christopher Dorworth, a former Florida lobbyist and friend of Gaetz, who has said the ethics committee’s report contains “false statements.”
“The SCSO is committed to investigating criminal activity, but an investigation can only begin when there is a victim or direct knowledge of a crime. This requires a sworn statement or affidavit from the victim outlining the alleged crime or information that warrants further investigation,” the sheriff’s office said. “No victim in the sexual activity allegation is known to the SCSO or has come forward with allegations relating to this report. By the time federal investigators had a verbal conversation with the SCSO regarding their findings and decision not to pursue federal charges, the state’s statute of limitations had long expired.”
“Since the statute of limitations for these alleged crimes has expired and no victim or sworn affidavit has been provided, we are unable to conduct an independent investigation, regardless of the findings from the House of Representatives Committee on Ethics,” the SCSO continued.
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The Washington Examiner reached out to Moody’s office as well as the SCSO but did not receive a reply at the time of publishing.
Gaetz resigned from Congress last month after President-elect Donald Trump announced he was nominating Gaetz to be his attorney general — news that came days before the Ethics Committee was originally set to share its report. Days later, Gaetz withdrew his name from consideration for attorney general after facing significant opposition in the Senate.