CrosswordNewsletters
DAILY BEAST
ALL
  • Cheat Sheet
  • Obsessed
  • Politics
  • Crime
  • Entertainment
  • Media
  • Innovation
  • Opinion
  • World
  • U.S. News
  • Scouted
CHEAT SHEET
    POLITICS
    • Fever Dreams
    • Biden World
    • Elections
    • Opinion
    • National Security
    • Congress
    • Pay Dirt
    • The New Abnormal
    • Right Richter
    • Trumpland
    MEDIA
    • Confider
    • Daytime Talk
    • Late-Night
    • Fox News
    U.S. NEWS
    • Identities
    • Crime
    • Race
    • LGBT
    • Extremism
    • Coronavirus
    WORLD
    • Russia
    • Europe
    • China
    • Middle East
    INNOVATION
    • Science
    TRAVEL
      ENTERTAINMENT
      • TV
      • Movies
      • Music
      • Comedy
      • Sports
      • Sex
      • TDB's Obsessed
      • Awards Shows
      • The Last Laugh
      CULTURE
      • Power Trip
      • Fashion
      • Books
      • Royalist
      TECH
      • Disinformation
      SCOUTED
      • Clothing
      • Technology
      • Beauty
      • Home
      • Pets
      • Kitchen
      • Fitness
      • I'm Looking For
      BEST PICKS
      • Best VPNs
      • Best Gaming PCs
      • Best Air Fryers
      COUPONS
      • Vistaprint Coupons
      • Ulta Coupons
      • Office Depot Coupons
      • Adidas Promo Codes
      • Walmart Promo Codes
      • H&M Coupons
      • Spanx Promo Codes
      • StubHub Promo Codes
      Products
      NewslettersPodcastsCrosswordsSubscription
      FOLLOW US
      GOT A TIP?

      SEARCH

      HOMEPAGE
      Congress

      Matt Gaetz’s Wingman Seeks Sentencing Delay to Continue Cooperating

      Mounting Evidence

      Joel Greenberg asks for more time to cooperate with investigators before he's sentenced.

      Jose Pagliery

      Political Investigations Reporter

      Updated Jul. 06, 2021 6:13PM ET / Published Jul. 06, 2021 4:47PM ET 

      Photo illustration by The Daily Beast/handout

      Joel Greenberg—the Rep. Matt Gaetz wingman who pleaded guilty and is now helping authorities investigate the congressman’s involvement in an underage sex ring—has so much evidence that he needs more than 44 days to share it.

      In a court document filed Tuesday, Greenberg, the disgraced local tax collector, asked a federal judge to push back his sentencing.

      The letter describes “ongoing cooperation which will not be completed prior to his current sentencing date.”

      In May, Greenberg admitted to engaging in sex trafficking, identity theft, and other crimes on the condition that he would turn over evidence that implicated others who helped him. He was scheduled to be sentenced on Aug. 19.

      Greenberg has become a witness in an ongoing probe into Gaetz’s alleged paid sexual relationship with a 17-year-old girl, according to two sources familiar with the investigation who have spoken on condition of anonymity.

      His lawyer, Fritz Scheller, indicated in a court filing today that Greenberg has been providing key information to federal investigators and is planning to turn over more evidence.

      His “cooperation… cannot be completed prior to the time of his sentencing” next month, Scheller wrote.

      Greenberg has requested an additional 90-day extension, hinting that this investigation is far from over.

      Scheller did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida, which is investigating the case, declined comment.

      In the waning days of the Trump administration, Greenberg wrote a confession letter detailing how he and Gaetz both paid to have sex with the teen while she was underage. Greenberg wrote that he saw the acts occur “first hand” and explained how he paid women on Gaetz’s behalf. The Daily Beast also obtained private Venmo transactions between the two that named several women and tracked down two witnesses who described how Gaetz snorted cocaine with an escort in a Florida hotel room after a 2019 GOP fundraiser.

      Greenberg is the first publicly known person to strike a deal with the government, but sources have told The Daily Beast that investigators are also pressuring additional associates to become potential witnesses, including Gaetz’s ex-girlfriend and Greenberg’s friends.

      READ THIS LIST

      DAILY BEAST
      • Cheat Sheet
      • Politics
      • Entertainment
      • Media
      • World
      • Innovation
      • U.S. News
      • Scouted
      • Travel
      • Subscription
      • Crossword
      • Newsletters
      • Podcasts
      • About
      • Contact
      • Tips
      • Jobs
      • Advertise
      • Help
      • Privacy
      • Code of Ethics & Standards
      • Diversity
      • Terms & Conditions
      • Copyright & Trademark
      • Sitemap
      • Best Picks
      • Coupons
      • Coupons:
      • Dick's Sporting Goods Coupons
      • HP Coupon Codes
      • Chewy Promo Codes
      • Nordstrom Rack Coupons
      • NordVPN Coupons
      • JCPenny Coupons
      • Nordstrom Coupons
      • Samsung Promo Coupons
      • Home Depot Coupons
      • Hotwire Promo Codes
      • eBay Coupons
      • Ashley Furniture Promo Codes
      © 2023 The Daily Beast Company LLC