Gaetz was investigated as part of a sex trafficking case, but he strongly denied wrongdoing and was never charged. The Florida Republican huddled with senators at the Capitol on Wednesday to prepare for his confirmation hearing early next year.

Democrats will hand control of the Senate to Republicans in the new year for any confirmation hearings of Trump’s nominees, so gaining access to the FBI’s files before the end of the year would ensure lawmakers would have access to them .

“The serious public allegations against Mr. Gaetz speak directly to his fitness to serve as the chief law enforcement officer for the Federal Government,” 10 Democrats on the Senate Judiciary Committee wrote in their letter to the FBI. “The unanswered questions about Mr. Gaetz’s alleged conduct are particularly important given that his associate, Joel Greenberg, pleaded guilty to the sex trafficking charge for which Mr. Gaetz was also under investigation.”