by Kevin Seraaj, Orlando Advocate
After much fan-fair and publicized allegations of sex trafficking by Republican Congressman Matt Gaetz, expected charges now seem unlikely to ever materialize. While some close to the investigation insist it isn’t over, prosecutors appear unable to mount an appropriate offense. The problem is that state witnesses just are credible enough to risk going to trial. Should Gaetz be found not guilty, the law against double jeopardy would apply and he could never be charged for the same crime again.
The prosecution’s star witness is Joel Greenberg, Gaetz’s friend during happier times, and a now disgraced former tax official, pled guilty last year to six federal crimes. Among those crimes were identity theft and sex trafficking the same 17-year-old alleged to be the victim in Gaetz’s case. Greenberg has been called a “pathological liar” no jury would ever believe.
The alleged victim, who was 17 years old at the time, turned 18 in December 2017. Although proecutors offered her full immunity for her testimony, she is now an online pornography star– a fact prosecutors feel could off-put some jurors and reduce the value of her testimony.
Gaetz appeared to have dodged a bullet thanks to these credibility issues, although prosecutors have yet to issue a formal statement declining to prosecute the Panhandle politician.
