If it feels like the federal investigation into Matt Gaetz‘s alleged underage sex crimes has been going on forever, it’s because it has. But it looks like things might be wrapping up soon.
Quick recap: The DOJ has been investigating whether the anti-LGBTQ lawmaker paid an underage girl for sex and traveled with her across state lines in 2018. Gaetz swears he’s innocent, but his former wingman, Joel Greenberg, has reportedly told the feds otherwise.
Related: Matt Gaetz suddenly very concerned about improving conditions of American jails as FBI probe festers
Greenberg is currently facing 12 years in prison after he pleaded guilty to six federal crimes last year, including child sex trafficking, identity theft, stalking, wire fraud, and conspiracy to bribe a public official. His sentencing has been delayed several times since striking a plea deal in May 2021 while citing his ongoing cooperation with investigators.
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As Greenberg wraps up his work with the feds, and as his sentencing date draws nearer, his attorney, Fritz Scheller, filed a motion yesterday asking a judge for permission to submit additional information about his help in the Gaetz investigation, as well as multiple other criminal probes, under seal.
“Pursuant to his plea agreement with the Government and to mitigate the significant penalties he faces, Mr. Greenberg has been cooperating with federal prosecutors in active investigations currently being conducted by the United States Attorney’s Office in the Middle District of Florida and the Department of Justice in Washington D.C. as well as in other jurisdictions,” Scheller wrote in the filing to the Florida court.
Related: Matt Gaetz’s future looking “not good” after latest development, says former federal prosecutor
Scheller asked that the additional information be filed under seal because it contains sensitive information about ongoing investigations and prosecutions “as well as information regarding the nature and extent of Mr. Greenberg’s ongoing cooperation.”
“If this Court sets a hearing on the motion, the proceeding will convey specific information to the Court concerning Mr. Greenberg’s cooperation against multiple individuals,” he wrote.
Ongoing investigations and prosecutions? In Florida, D.C., and “other jurisdictions”? Multiple individuals? That certainly sounds… ominous. At least for Gaetz and whoever else Greenberg has ratted out. We wonder who it might be?
If only we’d known Matt Gaetz, Roger Stone and Joel Greenberg were associated… pic.twitter.com/VMdpvc4Vfe
— Claude Taylor (@TrueFactsStated) April 30, 2021
OK, so what does this all mean exactly?
Legal analyst Lisa Rubin breaks it down on Twitter:
NEW: Nearly a year after his *original* sentencing date, Matt Gaetz's wingman, Joel Greenberg, is ready to be sentenced. But he'll file his motion for a sentencing date under seal with court approval. 1/
— Lisa Rubin (@lawofruby) July 5, 2022
Why? Because his motion would reveal the nature and extent of his cooperation in “active investigations” in multiple jurisdictions, he writes. 2/ pic.twitter.com/OnnFw9iK0W
— Lisa Rubin (@lawofruby) July 5, 2022
And make no mistake: Greenberg’s filing today indicates that he has cooperated in “ongoing . . . prosecutions,” not just investigations, and that the investigations and prosecutions in which he has cooperated concern “multiple individuals.” 3/ pic.twitter.com/AmYwSImC04
— Lisa Rubin (@lawofruby) July 5, 2022
Greenberg has until tomorrow to file his motion, and we should learn the date of his sentencing hearing soon. In the meantime, watch this space–and Matt Gaetz? 4/
— Lisa Rubin (@lawofruby) July 5, 2022
Grab the popcorn, folx. We have a feeling things are about to get very interesting.
Related: About 30 people showed up for Matt Gaetz’s big reelection campaign kick off event
Rambeaux
I am so tired of these “Matt Gaetz”s is in big trouble, now” pieces .
This sh*t has been published for 2 years and he is still skipping around doing his thing, unimpeded.
Leave it alone until he is in an orange jumpsuit.
lou lou de la falaise
Amen to that.
abfab
Tired of it? Don’t read it. It’s not that difficult. QUEERTY does a great job. They are all over the place with news and gay shit. I love them!!!!! Plus they let us bicker amounst ourselves until the next fab story comes along. Matti is already in hell…he’s done.
Mario
Queerty peddles innuendos, opinions, and conjectures. Almost never facts!
Ever notice Queerty prints nothing about the ongoing investigations of Hunter Biden by the Delaware State Attorney or the U.S. Justice Department, or the federal investigation of left-wing Congressman Eric Swalwell’s extra-marital affair with a Chinese spy to whom he may have given classified secrets?
That’s because none of these investigations fit Queerty’s left-wing narrative.
white-queer-african
Mario…..
I am not saying anything more that I have not said about you before.
Oh wait, I have not told you to just f*cking die!
skiphigg
Could it possibly be that everyone you named is an elected public servant. I don’t think your affinity for investigation of democrats has that in Hunter Biden.
#commonsenseainttoocommon
mailliw110
EVERYONE HAVE A DRINK FOR THE HUNTER REFERENCE!!!!
still_onthemark
@Mario: Matt Gaetz has a history of anti-gay statements and actions during his time as an elected official. Eric Swalwell doesn’t. Hunter Biden doesn’t and is not elected to anything.
Is this too much for you to follow?
ZzBomb
@ Mario
The Hunter Biden conspiracy is a nothing burger which has already been once over investigated and he was found of no wrong doing. The re-opening of the case is b/c of right wing whining, much like you do here.
Swalwell has already been cleared by the FBI regarding the Chinese agent who worked for his campaign.
Clamzilla
Re: Mario’s comment about Queerty being “left-wing.” So what? This isn’t your nightly news source. Queerty is allowed to have a corporate point of view, and, as a member of the LGBTQIA community, I’d rather have them represent the Left than promote the bigotry and hate of the Right.
CNY1983
there goes another republican asshole again with pubic hair between his teeth from a coke can….nothing to say about anything except the glass of bullshit from the fox peddlers.
who in the republican bullshitters party is NOT under investigation? gimme a break.
GQP needs a “mario” everywhere they can get one to push their smelly dirareha to any little dumbass with an AK.
with so many republican douchebags heading to prison who is left to vote for?
whatever happened to the ivanka for president excrement? they elect presidents in womens federal prison?
wiggie
Re: Mario’s comment. I view news articles from different sites to get different perspectives and your beloved conservative media BARELY has any articles on Hunter either, so what’s your point?
scotty
sometimes, the wheels of justice turn infinitesimally slow, but nonetheless, they do turn.
JromeGervais09
He looks like he is preparing to make a man feel good.
ZzBomb
The actual “groomers” are all Republicans.
DennisBTR
So here is the thing – regardless of what information the government has, it is very doubtful there will be any indictment before the election in November. The Justice Department has a long standing rule that they will not indict a candidate for public office close to the election date for which the candidate will be on the ballot. The Florida primary is in August and the general election is in November.
If and when anything comes of this, it will most likely not be until after November, unless Gatez loses the primary, which is unlikely.