Matt Gaetz's FBI sex-trafficking probe evidence sought by Senate Democrats

• Donald Trump, the newly elected president, has announced that he intends to appoint Gaetz, a former Florida legislator, as the country's attorney general.
• The Judiciary Committee stated in a letter to the FBI that the "grave public allegations against Mr. Gaetz" raise questions about his ability to serve as the head of federal law enforcement.

On Wednesday, the Senate Judiciary Committee requested the FBI's "complete evidentiary file" pertaining to a previous investigation into Matt Gaetz's alleged sex trafficking of an underage girl.

The request from the Judiciary panel states that the serious accusations against Mr. Gaetz affect his ability to serve as the head of federal law enforcement.

Last year, the Department of Justice concluded its investigation into Gaetz without any charges being filed.

The 42-year-old Republican, who represented a Florida district in the House of Representatives until last week, has denied any wrongdoing and, if confirmed by the Senate, would lead the DOJ as attorney general.

In Congress, Gaetz gained notoriety for his incendiary remarks and attention-seeking actions, making him a well-known Trump loyalist.

The House Ethics Committee was probing Gaetz for suspected sexual misconduct and other improprieties until he resigned, thereby taking him out of the committee's purview.

According to NBC, the committee has scheduled a private meeting on Wednesday to discuss whether to publicly release the report from its probe.

GOP senators have been urged by Trump to bypass the Senate confirmation process through recess appointments.

According to Sen. Shelley Moore Capito of West Virginia, who will be the fourth-ranking Republican in the next Congress, the effort to bypass the Senate through recess appointments is likely to lose momentum after a "big discussion" with her colleagues.

"According to Capito, the issue of recess appointments is likely to fade away and won't significantly impact the president's strategy for appointing his Cabinet."