Former Rep. Matt Gaetz sued in Orlando federal court for sex trafficking

Two women have filed a civil lawsuit in federal court in Orlando accusing former Republican Florida Congressman Matt Gaetz and two others of sex trafficking, according to reports from multiple iHeartRadio affiliates.

The plaintiffs, identified as Jane Doe 1 and Jane Doe 2, allege that Gaetz and the other defendants coordinated recruitment, payments, drugs, and travel to obtain commercial sexual acts between 2017 and January 2019, as reported by Politico and other outlets.

The lawsuit claims Gaetz exploited the women's financial vulnerabilities while serving in Congress. These allegations align with findings from a House Ethics Committee investigation that found substantial evidence of misconduct, including having sex with a minor and paying women for sex, according to The Guardian.

One of the other defendants, former Seminole County Tax Collector Joel Greenberg, is serving an 11-year prison sentence for crimes including underage sex trafficking. The lawsuit alleges Greenberg recruited the women and introduced them to Gaetz. Former Florida state Rep. Chris Dorworth is also named as a participant in the alleged scheme.

The complaint details trips arranged by the defendants to locations including Venice Beach, Miami, Las Vegas, the Florida Keys, the Bahamas, and New York City, where the plaintiffs say they were expected to perform sexual acts in exchange for travel and accommodations.

Gaetz denies the allegations and plans to contest them in court. His nomination for Attorney General under President Trump was withdrawn in 2024 amid scrutiny over these allegations. The Justice Department declined to charge Gaetz in 2023, but the House Ethics Committee found evidence of wrongdoing including obstructing Congress's investigation.