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GOP Congressman Matt Gaetz and Donald Trump exchanged kind words with each other during the former president's campaign rally in Florida just prior to the midterm polls opening.
At the event in support of Florida Senator Marco Rubio, Gaetz praised Trump as being the ultimate "closer," while giving him an affectionate nickname.
"It is closing time in these midterm elections. The fight is on, and there is no closer in American politics like Big Daddy Don," Gaetz said, prompting cheers from the crowd at the Miami-Dade County Fair and Exposition in Miami on Sunday.
Later on during his headline appearance at the "Save America" rally, Trump appeared to make reference to the long-running federal sex-trafficking investigation involving Gaetz while apologizing on "behalf of the country" amid claims the congressman will not face charges in the ongoing probe.
The Justice Department has been investigating Gaetz over allegations he had sex with a teenage girl and paid for her to travel with him, including over state lines to be sold into prostitution. Gaetz has not been charged with any crime and denies all the accusations against him.
"The word we can't say, I am not going to say, but he went through things having to do with that and it was terrible how he got treated," Trump said.
"He is so tough, so strong, and everybody stayed with him. He is smart and he loves this state and this country. Matt Gaetz, great man.
"We apologize to you on behalf of the country, all of us do, because what you went through is just terrible and so unnecessary," Trump added.
While there has been no official announcement that Gaetz will not be charged in the criminal investigation, The Washington Post reported in September that prosecutors are recommending against such a move.
Prosecutors are said to have suggested to the Justice Department that Gaetz not face prosecution in the sex trafficking investigation due to concerns over the credibility of two key witnesses.
Senior unnamed DoJ officials told The Post that it is rare that the federal department rejects such recommendations from career prosecutors, meaning it is highly unlikely that charges will be brought against Gaetz.
In October, NBC also reported that the investigation into Gaetz appeared to have stalled over the credibility of two key witnesses.
Joel Greenberg, a longtime associate of Gaetz, pleaded guilty to six federal crimes including sex trafficking of a child—believed to be the same 17-year-old girl at the center of the Gaetz investigation—in May 2021.
Prosecutors dismissed a further 27 counts that Greenberg faced in exchange for his cooperation into other sex-trafficking inquires.
Gaetz's former girlfriend was also granted immunity from federal prosecution in return for her testimony in the Gaetz probe.
"At a federal level, I could not ever imagine prosecuting a case where you have a documented liar like Greenberg and this other person as your top witnesses," Richard Hornsby, an attorney for former state Rep. Chris Dorworth, who was subpoenaed in the case, told NBC.
Gaetz has been contacted for further comment.
About the writer
Ewan Palmer is a Newsweek News Reporter based in London, U.K. His focus is reporting on US politics, and Florida ... Read more