Two women have filed a federal lawsuit in Orlando against former U.S. Representative Matt Gaetz, alleging sexual exploitation and sex trafficking. The legal action, filed Thursday, claims Gaetz used his position of power to exploit vulnerable women in their early 20s.
The House Ethics Committee report and the 17-year-old girl
The current legal battle follows a pattern of scrutinny that intensified after the House Ethics Committee released a report detailing Matt Gaetz's conduct. According to the source, that report alleged the Florida Republican frequently paid for sex—including an instance involving a 17-year-old girl—and engaged in the use of illicit drugs while serving in Congress.
This specific set of allegations had significant political ramifications for Matt Gaetz. As reported by the source, the findings of the House Ethics Committee report contributed to the failure of his nomination to serve as attorney general in the second administration of U.S. President Donald Trump.
Joel Greenberg and the 2017 allegations of paid sex
The lawsuit filed in Orlando names not only Matt Gaetz but also Joel Greenberg,a former tax official in Seminole County who is currently imprisoned for various crimes, including a sex crime. The two women plaintiffs state they were in their early 20s in 2017 when they were introduced to Matt Gaetz through Joel Greenberg.
The legal filing claims that Matt Gaetz provided drugs and financial compensation to the women in exchange for sex. Furthermore, the lawsuit alleges that Matt Gaetz paid for the women's lodging, out-of-state travel, and other associated expenses during this period.
Spencer Kuvin's claim of an exploitative power imbalance
Attorney Spencer Kuvin, representing the two women, argues that the relationship was predicated on a severe power disparity. Kuvin asserts that the venture was managed by men in positions of authority—specifically a sitting congressman, an elected tax collector, and a former state legislator—who utilized their money and public office to control financially vulnerable women.
Matt Gaetz has strongly denied these claims, stating that much of the conduct alleged against him is false. In a public statement, Matt Gaetz argued that the lawsuit relies almost entirely on a Congressional Committee report that denied him the opportunity to confront his accusers, a process he claims he will now be able to pursue through the court system.
Gaetz's OANN role and the Triumph Gulf Coast appointment
Despite the ongoing legal turmoil, Matt Gaetz has maintained a visible public proifle. He currently hosts a political talk show on the One America News Network (OANN) and was recently named to the board of Triumph Gulf Coast, the entity responsible for managing Florida's recovery funds from the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill.
The former congressman has also used social media to push back against the allegations. On the platform X, Matt Gaetz shared a 2018 photo of women in the Bahamas,appearing to mock the plaintiffs by questioning why no one responded to their "repeated cries for help," as reported by the source.
The unspecified damages sought in the Orlando federal court
While the lawsuit seeks a formal finding that Matt Gaetz and Joel Greenberg violated federal anti-trafficking statutes, the specific financial damages being sought remain unspecified. This leaves a key question regarding the scale of the financial liability Matt Gaetz may face if the court rules in favor of the plaintiffs.
Additionally, it remains unclear if the evidence presented in this civil suit will trigger new criminal investigations. While the source notes that Matt Gaetz has not been charged with any crime connected to these specific claims, the overlap between the civil allegations and the previous federal investigation into Joel Greenberg suggests a complex legal intersection.
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