Florida radio host Joseph “Big Joe” Ellicott is cooperating with the Justice Department’s probe into Florida GOP Rep. Matt Gaetz, CNN reports.
This Monday, Ellicott agreed to plead guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and to distribution of a controlled substance in a separate case. Ellicott’s attorney, Joe Zwick, said his client is sharing what he knows with investigators about allegations against Gaetz, including accusations of sexual contact with a minor, sex trafficking, and obstruction of justice. “He was able to shed light on all of those issues,” Zwick said.
As CNN points out, Ellicott is the third person associated with Gaetz to cooperate with the federal investigation.
Zwick said Ellicott was a friend of a person close to Gaetz, and as a result attended events or heard conversations involving the Gaetz. Zwick said those events were “basically like what you’d expect at a college frat party,” adding that Ellicott witnessed “sex, drugs — a whole lot of it.”
From CNN:
An ex-girlfriend of Gaetz’s testified earlier this month before the grand jury. And Joel Greenberg, a former Florida tax official and onetime close friend of Gaetz’s, has been cooperating with authorities after pleading guilty to several charges last year, including that he had knowingly solicited and paid a minor for sex.
Gaetz has denied any wrongdoing in regards to the case.
“After nearly a year of false rumors, not a shred of evidence has implicated Congressman Gaetz in wrongdoing. We remain focused on our work representing Floridians,” Gaetz’s office said in a statement Wednesday.
