By Tierney Sneed, CNN
(CNN) – Two women who claim they were paid for sex Former Rep. Matt Gaetz provided House ethics investigators with “numerous” photos related to time they spent with the Florida Republican, a lawyer for the ladies said Tuesday, including from an alleged trip to New York in 2019.
The women said they were paid by the previous congressman for sex on that trip, during which in addition they accompanied Gaetz at a Fox News studio while he filmed a television appearance, their attorney Joel Leppard told CNN's Erin Burnett on “OutFront.” “. Gaetz also allegedly covered the ladies's travel expenses, Leppard said.
The women also provided the House Ethics Committee with selfies that Gaetz allegedly sent them, in line with their lawyer. They also said they sent Gaetz nude photos, sometimes at his request, Leppard said.
Gaetz was recently tapped President-elect Donald Trump named him his attorney general and resigned from Congress last week, effectively ending the ethics investigation against him. The panel had been investigating allegations of misconduct against Gaetz, including “sexual misconduct and illegal drug use,” and is considering releasing a report on its findings.
When asked by the committee whether or not they had ever felt pressured by Gaetz, Leppard said considered one of his clients testified that she felt the necessity to “please” the then-congressman before she met throughout the New York visit Attended electronic music show.
CNN has reached out to Gaetz for comment. Gaetz has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing.
Leppard's account of the deposition provides further insight into the evidence the House committee collected in its investigation, which was conducted along with a criminal investigation by the Justice Department. Federal prosecutors declined to charge Gaetz – a choice the previous congressman has pointed to as he vehemently defended the allegations, which include an allegation that he had sex with a then-underage woman who later testified in each investigations has rejected.
“Merrick Garland's Justice Department has cleared Matt Gaetz and has not filed charges against him,” a spokesman for Gaetz told CNN last week.
As the Senate prepares to formally consider Gaetz for the role of attorney general, Democrats and a few Republicans are demanding access to the House panel's report. After Gaetz abruptly resigned from Congress following Trump's election announcement, the committee postponed its meetings discuss the publication of the report The next meeting is scheduled for Wednesday. House Speaker Mike Johnson, who has said previously that he would stay out of the Ethics Committee's affairs, has opposed the discharge of the report.
Leppard noted that the House panel heard testimony from several other witnesses.
“The evidence before the House is, in my opinion, overwhelming because my clients were only two of the other witnesses, and there are very important witnesses who have not yet come out and previewed the findings of the House Ethics Committee. “show,” he said.
According to the attorney, House investigators asked the 2 women for records they obtained that showed payments, mostly transmitted electronically, that were allegedly made to them by Gaetz. Leppard said records show considered one of his clients received greater than $6,000 and the opposite received greater than $4,000 from the congressman.
“What I’m telling you is just a fraction of the evidence available, the thousands of documents,” Leppard said.
CNN's Annie Grayer contributed to this report.
The CNN Wire
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