A confidential file containing sensitive exhibits tied to legal proceedings involving Matt Gaetz, the former Florida congressman and President-elect Donald J. Trump’s pick for attorney general, has reportedly been accessed by an unidentified hacker.

The breach, first reported by the New York Times and described by a source familiar with the situation, includes testimony from individuals accusing Mr Gaetz of misconduct, such as involvement in underage sexual relationships.

The compromised file, which was shared among attorneys through a secure link, is said to contain 24 exhibits.

The New York Times reports that among these is a sworn statement from a woman alleging she had a sexual encounter with Mr Gaetz in 2017 when she was 17. Another individual reportedly corroborated her account, claiming she witnessed the incident.

The breach was traced to a user operating under the alias “Altam Beezley,” who allegedly downloaded the documents at 1:23 p.m. on Monday.

The news outlet said attempts by a lawyer connected to the case to reach the user via email were unsuccessful, as the address returned an automated message indicating it was invalid.

The leaked materials are said to include content still under seal by the Justice Department, which previously investigated Mr Gaetz but did not bring charges.

The documents also reportedly include findings from the House Ethics Committee, which recently completed its inquiry into the former congressman.

The committee is expected to meet on Wednesday to decide whether to release evidence from its investigation to the public.