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Former Congressman Matt Gaetz Faces New Sex Trafficking Lawsuit
Confirmed
In Short: A new federal lawsuit accuses former Florida Congressman Matt Gaetz of sex trafficking and paying women for sex.
Former Florida Congressman Matt Gaetz is facing a new federal lawsuit alleging he participated in a sex trafficking scheme involving young women and illicit drugs.
The lawsuit, filed in the Middle District of Florida on Monday, claims that Gaetz and two co-defendants coordinated the recruitment, payments, drugs, and travel to obtain commercial sexual acts from two unnamed women in their 20s between 2017 and 2019.
One of the women alleges she saw Gaetz having sex with a 17-year-old girl, and both women claim Gaetz paid them thousands of dollars.
The lawsuit also names former Seminole County tax collector Joel Greenberg and former Florida Republican House member Christopher Dorworth as co-defendants.
Gaetz responded to the lawsuit, stating, 'I look forward to taking the plaintiffs’ depositions because much of the conduct alleged against me is false.'
He also noted that the lawsuit relies almost exclusively on a Congressional Committee report that did not allow him to confront his accusers.
In December 2024, the House ethics committee said its investigation found that Gaetz made payments totaling tens of thousands of dollars to women for sex and drugs on at least 20 occasions.
Joel Greenberg, a close associate of Gaetz, pleaded guilty in May 2021 to six federal offenses, including sex trafficking of a child, and was sentenced to 11 years in federal prison.
Gaetz's legal troubles come amid other controversies involving Florida politicians, including the sentencing of former Congressman David Rivera to 10 years in prison for acting as an illegal lobbyist for Venezuela.
The lawsuit adds to the ongoing scrutiny of Gaetz's conduct and his previous involvement in similar allegations.
Gaetz has previously denied similar accusations, stating, 'I never had sex with this person,' in reference to one of the women mentioned in the lawsuit.
What's confirmed
- He points out the "lawsuit relies almost exclusively on a Congressional Committee report that didn’t allow me to confront my accusers." He said he's looking forward to taking the plaintiffs' depositions, as it will allow him the opportunity to confront his accusers.
- A Miami federal judge sentenced former South Florida Congressman David Rivera to 10 years in prison on Friday (October 2) for acting as an illegal lobbyist for Venezuela and conspiring to commit money laundering.
- “I look forward to taking the plaintiffs’ depositions because much of the conduct alleged against me is false,” Gaetz said in a statement.
What's still developing
- The alleged incidents recounted in the lawsuit occurred between 2017 and 2019.
- The suit also claims that Gaetz covered up direct involvement in funding the girls' travel using other dependents he recruited.
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