Watchdog group asks court to release Gaetz investigation documents

Government watchdog group American Oversight has filed a motion in federal court to compel the Justice Department to release all records related to its investigation of former Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.), who President-elect Trump has nominated to serve as his attorney general.

The motion for an injunction comes nine months into the group’s battle with the Justice Department to gain access to the records, and as members of Congress have been clamoring for the release of a related report assembled by the House Ethics Committee.

Gaetz was investigated as part of a sex trafficking probe by the Justice Department, which ultimately declined to bring charges against the congressman but secured a plea deal with one of his associates.

Trump nominated Gaetz for attorney general last week, and the lawmaker resigned his position in Congress the same day, raising questions over whether the House Ethics Committee will release its report about Gaetz. The former lawmaker may be visiting senators as soon as today to begin lobbying for his confirmation.

The House Ethics Committee has spent years investigating Gaetz over allegations of sexual misconduct and illicit drug use, and he has been accused of paying an underage woman for sex.

Gaetz has vigorously denied wrongdoing.

The committee is set to meet Wednesday to vote on releasing the report, though various outlets reported that a hacker has gained access to some witness testimony.

In its motion, American Oversight argues its bid to gain access to the documents is a “once in a lifetime” question before the court based on a “scenario so unusual” as a Justice Department nominee being trailed by an investigation into an agency they would be charged with leading.

“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 Oversight interim Executive Director Chioma Chukwu said in a statement.