Introduction to Allegations

Former Republican congressman Matt Gaetz is under scrutiny following a civil lawsuit filed in Florida, where he is accused of sex trafficking two young women. These allegations surfaced in a detailed 38-page document submitted to the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida.

Details of the Lawsuit

The lawsuit identifies the two women as Jane Doe 1 and Jane Doe 2, claiming that from 2017 to January 2019, Gaetz and two co-defendants orchestrated a scheme involving the recruitment, payment, and travel arrangements to facilitate commercial sexual acts.

The plaintiffs assert that they were economically vulnerable, which the defendants allegedly exploited to carry out these acts. At the time of the purported misconduct, both women were recent high school graduates.

Connection to Joel Greenberg

One of the implicated individuals is Joel Micah Greenberg, a close associate of Gaetz and a former Seminole County tax collector. Greenberg pleaded guilty in May 2021 to multiple federal charges, including sex trafficking of a child. He is currently serving an 11-year prison sentence.

Gaetz’s Response to Allegations

In response to the lawsuit, Gaetz has publicly denied the allegations, expressing eagerness to confront the plaintiffs’ claims. “I look forward to taking the plaintiffs’ depositions because much of the conduct alleged against me is false,” he stated to The Guardian.

Gaetz also referred to a congressional report that investigated his actions, emphasizing that he was not allowed to confront his accusers during that process. He aims to utilize this lawsuit as an opportunity to defend himself.

Content of the Lawsuit

According to the complaint, Greenberg utilized SeekingArrangement.com to recruit the plaintiffs and subsequently facilitated introductions between them and Gaetz. Jane Doe 1 alleges they were introduced at a party where Gaetz engaged in sexual acts with her. Additionally, she claims that Gaetz later paid her via PayPal after the encounter.

Jane Doe 2 recounts her initial meeting with Greenberg, where she was invited to a party that turned into a drug-fueled encounter involving Gaetz. She alleges that sexual acts occurred amid a setting where drugs were present.

Travel and Financial Aspects

The lawsuit highlights that the defendants financed trips for the plaintiffs to various locations—including Miami, Las Vegas, and the Bahamas—between December 2017 and January 2019. These excursions allegedly came with expectations of sexual favors in return for expenses covered.

The plaintiffs claimed they were led to believe that maintaining sexual relations with defendants could help alleviate their financial situations.

Background and Political Fallout

These allegations add to a series of controversies surrounding Gaetz, including previous findings by a House ethics committee that noted payments made by him to women for sex in addition to accusations involving a minor. Gaetz resigned from Congress in November 2024, shortly after facing intense scrutiny and withdrawing from consideration for a position in Trump’s administration.