Matt Gaetz sued for sex trafficking by two women in federal court
Two women have filed a federal lawsuit accusing former congressman Matt Gaetz of sex trafficking, alongside Joel Greenberg and Christopher Dorworth.
Federal sex trafficking lawsuit filed against former congressman Matt Gaetz
Two women have filed a federal lawsuit against former Republican Representative Matt Gaetz, accusing him of sex trafficking, newrepublic.com reports. The lawsuit, filed Thursday in the middle district of Florida, also names ex-Seminole County tax collector Joel Greenberg and former Florida state Representative Christopher Dorworth as defendants.
According to the Miami Herald, the plaintiffs allege that the three men recruited young women, supplied them with drugs for sex, and transported them across state lines between 2017 and 2019. The two women are identified in the lawsuit as Jane Doe 1 and Jane Doe 2.
Both women were in their early twenties when they first met Gaetz in 2017 — aged 20 and 22, respectively. They allege that Greenberg, who is currently serving an 11-year federal prison sentence on multiple charges including sex trafficking of a minor, recruited them during a period when they lacked stable income.
Greenberg used the website SeekingArrangement.com — now simply called Seeking — to locate the women and introduce them to a circle of men that included Gaetz and Dorworth. The lawsuit alleges that the three men operated a system that preyed upon young women, paying for sex and providing controlled substances at parties and private homes.
Greenberg and Dorworth also allegedly helped conceal Gaetz's conduct by funding trips to Miami, Las Vegas, the Florida Keys, and New York City for the plaintiffs, themselves, and other men.
"At the time of this venture, Gaetz was a sitting member of Congress, holding himself out to be one of President Donald J. Trump's closest confidants and most loyal supporters," the lawsuit states.
Jane Doe 1 alleges that she witnessed Gaetz having sex with a 17-year-old, an allegation consistent with earlier claims that contributed to Gaetz's resignation from the House of Representatives and later derailed his nomination by President Trump for the position of attorney general. She also states she received payments exceeding $6,000 from Gaetz, while Jane Doe 2 received more than $4,000. Payment descriptions in the records reportedly read "Being my friend," "car deductible," and "Love you."
Gaetz denied the allegations in a statement issued following the filing.
"I look forward to taking the plaintiffs' depositions because much of the conduct alleged against me is false," Gaetz said. "The lawsuit relies almost exclusively on a Congressional Committee report that didn't allow me to confront my accusers. Now I will finally have that chance."
The lawsuit comes amid a broader pattern of legal and political turbulence surrounding Gaetz. A House Ethics Committee investigation into allegations of sexual misconduct and illicit drug use had been ongoing prior to his resignation. His subsequent nomination as attorney general was withdrawn after Republican senators signalled they would not confirm him, with the sex trafficking allegations cited as a central concern.
Greenberg, whose cooperation with federal prosecutors made him a key figure in the earlier investigation into Gaetz, pleaded guilty in 2021 to six federal charges. His 11-year sentence reflects convictions that include sex trafficking of a minor, identity theft, and wire fraud.
Dorworth has not previously faced criminal charges in connection with the underlying investigation. His inclusion in the civil lawsuit marks the first time he has been named as a defendant in proceedings directly tied to the alleged conduct.
The case will proceed in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida. No trial date has been set.
Source: Google News MT — Crime (en)