Florida Republican U.S. Representative Matt Gaetz is embroiled in a new scandal following the release of civil court documents that allege he participated in a drug-fueled gathering in 2017 with a 17-year-old girl. The legal filings indicate that several eyewitnesses confirmed Gaetz’s presence at the party held by his associate, lobbyist Chris Dorworth.
The court documents contain sealed affidavits from three women who claimed that Gaetz was at the event where illegal substances, including cocaine and ecstasy, were consumed, and where sexual activities involving a minor reportedly occurred. One witness, identified as “K.M.,” described the party as having a group of adults alongside a naked 17-year-old girl, referred to as “A.B.” Additionally, a former girlfriend of Gaetz corroborated his attendance, and geolocation data further verified his presence at the gathering.
These recent documents emerge after a confession letter written in 2021 by Joel Greenberg, a former Seminole County tax collector and Gaetz’s close associate, who alleged that they had paid for sexual encounters with multiple women, including a minor. The letter, which was acquired by The Daily Beast, outlined how Greenberg facilitated payments on behalf of Gaetz, including several transactions through Venmo and Cash App directed towards the underage girl and other women. Greenberg is currently serving an 11-year sentence after pleading guilty to various charges, including sex trafficking.
Gaetz has not faced any criminal charges.
Federal investigators began probing Gaetz in 2020 following Greenberg’s arrest but ultimately decided against bringing charges, citing issues with witness credibility.
Greenberg’s confession letter, written while he sought a pardon from then-President Donald Trump, included serious allegations about Gaetz’s involvement with a minor, who was 17 years old at the time. Greenberg admitted to arranging sexual encounters for Gaetz and referenced financial transactions that Gaetz allegedly made to set up these meetings.
These allegations against Gaetz arise shortly after he defended former President Trump’s misleading claims about transgender youth during a post-debate interview following the presidential debate with Vice President Kamala Harris. In this interview, Gaetz echoed Trump’s erroneous assertion that schools engage in gender-affirming surgeries on children, a claim that has been widely debunked by experts in education and medicine.
As the situation unfolds, Gaetz faces increasing scrutiny both legally and politically. The House Ethics Committee is investigating him for alleged payments to women for sex. Although Gaetz has yet to face criminal charges, the committee could impose sanctions or recommend his expulsion from Congress based on their findings.