News

Joel Greenberg Agrees To Cooperate With Justice Dept. In Rep. Matt Gaetz Investigation

Former South Florida tax collector Joel Greenberg, currently in police custody under a slew of charges including sex trafficking of a minor, stalking, bribery and defrauding the COVID-19 Paycheck Protection Program, has agreed to cooperate with the Justice Department. Greenberg was closely associated with Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Florida), who is the subject of a federal probe investigating allegations that the representative had a sexual relationship with a 17-year-old girl.

“I am sure Matt Gaetz is not feeling very comfortable today,” Greenberg’s defense lawyer Fritz Scheller, said to reporters after court hearing Thursday. Scheller explained that Greenberg’s cooperation deal had been underway for the past month and that plea deal discussions for the former tax collector would likely take much longer. “We have all these levels of approval from the government, from the Department of Justice,” Scheller said. “It’s complicated. There’s a lot of different aspects to it, and it’s an ongoing process.”

Greenberg’s decision to cooperate indicates new trouble for Gaetz, but it is unclear if a Greenberg testimony would be accepted in court, as the former tax collector is also charged with falsely calling a political rival a pedophile, making any testimony about Gaetz’s alleged connection with a 17-year-old girl an easy target for the Florida representative’s defense team.

In case a plea deal is not reached between Greenberg and the Justice Department, U.S. District Court Judge Gregory Presnell announced that Greenberg’s jury trial would be in either June or July.

Subscribe to our free weekly newsletter!

A week of political news in your in-box.
We find the news you need to know, so you don't have to.

Brandon Mumei

Recent Posts

Democrats Attack Green Party Nominee Jill Stein In New Ad

A new ad about Green Party candidate Jill Stein has been released by Vice President Kamala Harris'…

12 hours ago

Jennifer Lopez Says Trump ‘Offended Every Latino In The Country’ With MSG Joke At Harris Rally

https://youtu.be/inbJpo6D4BQ Jennifer Lopez, campaigning with Kamala Harris on Oct. 31 in Nevada, said Donald Trump’s…

12 hours ago

Trump National Security Adviser Michael Flynn Says ‘Gates Of Hell’ Will Be Opened On Opponents If Trump Is Reelected

Former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn declared that the "gates of hell" would be unleashed if former…

2 days ago

VIDEO: Kamala Harris Hugs First Person In Line For Her Ellipse Rally, Chats With Her Mom

https://youtu.be/JQCdk-71tG0 Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris met with the woman who was the first in…

2 days ago

VIDEO: Harris Vows To Put ‘Country Above Party’ In Front Of 75,000 People At The Ellipse

https://youtu.be/xc72fdqkaVc Vice President Kamala Harris vowed to put “country above party and above self” as…

3 days ago

Trump-Friendly Judge Aileen Cannon In The Running For Attorney General If Former President Wins Second Term

U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon has reportedly been placed on a list of potential attorney general candidates…

3 days ago