Trump’s pick for US attorney general faces sex trafficking investigation by the department…

14 November 2024 11:04 | Updated: November 14, 2024, 11:06

Matt Gaetz, Donald Trump’s pick for U.S. attorney general, faced a multi-year investigation into sex trafficking allegations.

Mr. Trump’s nomination of Mr. Gaetz sent shockwaves through Washington.

The former Florida Congresswoman, a staunch supporter of Trump, was investigated by the justice department in a sex trafficking case several years ago. No charges were brought against him.

This investigation concerned, among other alleged crimes, whether she was involved in a scheme that led to the sex trafficking of a 17-year-old girl.

He was also investigated by the House ethics committee.

That latest investigation ended with him resigning from Congress this week because the House committee no longer had jurisdiction over his actions.

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Some have suggested that Mr. Trump’s nomination of Mr. Gaetz was not serious.

Max Miller, a Republican congressman from Ohio, said Gaetz “has a better chance of having dinner with Queen Elizabeth II than of being confirmed by the Senate.”

The Justice Department’s sex-trafficking investigation into Mr. Gaetz examined allegations that he and his onetime political ally Joel Greenberg paid underage girls and escorts or offered them gifts in exchange for sex.

Greenberg later admitted to paying women and an underage girl to have sex with him and other men. He was later sentenced to 11 years in prison.

Investigators also investigated Gaetz’s trip to the Bahamas with a group of women and a campaign donor and whether the women were paid to have sex with men, the AP reported:

They also investigated allegations that Mr. Gaetz provided government jobs to women.

Mr. Trump is preparing to take power from Joe Biden in January and met with the incumbent Democratic president on Wednesday.

He said of the transition: “It’s going to be as smooth as possible, and I appreciate that very much, Joe.”

Trump stated that he asked the current president about his views on the Middle East and Ukraine, but did not go into much detail.

“I asked him about his views on Ukraine, and he shared them with me,” Trump said.

“We also had a comprehensive discussion on the Middle East,” he added.

“I wanted to hear his thoughts on our current situation and his perspective, and he was kind enough to share them.”

Mr. Trump’s plane first touched down in Washington on Wednesday, where he arrived at a military base near the Capitol.

He met with billionaire Elon Musk for a meeting with House Republicans ahead of the Oval Office session with Mr. Biden.

When he returned to Washington for the first time since his election victory, he told Republican officials: “It’s nice to win.”

Mr. Trump received a standing ovation from House Republicans; many took videos of him ranking their party’s victories up and down the ballot in the last presidential election.

“I suspect I won’t run again unless you say he’s fine, we’ve got to find something else,” Mr. Trump said, laughing.

Mr. Trump was not accompanied by his wife, Melania, on the trip.

A spokesman said: “It is encouraging that her husband has returned to the Oval Office to begin the transition and she wishes him great success.”

No reason was given as to why he did not accept the invitation.

Joe and Jill Biden offered their congratulations and jointly invited the Trumps to meet at the White House.

While the president and president-elect meet in the Oval Office, spouses usually meet upstairs.