DOJ investigation into Matt Gaetz looking at allegations he paid women, who were recruited online, for sex, NYT reports
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- A DOJ inquiry into Matt Gaetz is looking into direct payments he made to women, The New York Times reported.
- Sources told The Times Gaetz and a political ally connected with the women online.
- Gaetz is currently being investigated over possible sex trafficking.
- See more stories on Insider's business page .
A Justice Department investigation into GOP Rep. Matt Gaetz of Florida is looking into money he and a political ally paid directly to women via apps, The New York Times reported Thursday. According to the report, which cited several unnamed sources familiar with the case, the women said they were paid for sex.
Sources told The Times that Joel Greenberg, the former tax collector in Seminole County, Florida, who has been indicted on multiple counts including those related to sex trafficking, connected with women online.
Gaetz has denied ever paying for sex.
"Matt Gaetz has never paid for sex," his office said in a statement to The Times. "Matt Gaetz refutes all the disgusting allegations completely. Matt Gaetz has never ever been on any such websites whatsoever. Matt Gaetz cherishes the relationships in his past and looks forward to marrying the love of his life."
On Thursday, The Times, citing four people familiar with the investigation, reported that Gaetz and Greenberg are both being investigated for potentially having illegal sexual relationships with the same 17-year-old woman, as well as with other women who they allegedly paid to have sex.
The report claims that Greenberg introduced Gaetz to several women via websites like SeekingArrangements.com, where wealthy people and members can seek "sugar daddy" relationships, oftentimes sex and intimacy in exchange for gifts.
According to The Times report, Gaetz and Greenberg met various women at hotels in Florida and paid for sexual encounters.
Gaetz offered MDMA to at least one woman and used the drug himself during one sexual encounter, according to people familiar with the meetups and with the Justice Department interviews, The Times reported.
The Times reviewed Cash App transactions between Greenberg, Gaetz, and several women mentioned in the interviews.
In August 2020, Greenberg was indicted on fourteen counts, including sex trafficking charges related to a minor between the age of 14 and 17. According to the Orlando Sentinel , prosecutors allege that Greenberg used his access as an elected official to seek information on women via the Florida Driver and Vehicle Information Database and engage relationships with them.
On Tuesday, an explosive report from The New York Times revealed that Gaetz is under federal investigation for potentially violating federal sex trafficking laws. The Times reported that the investigation into Gaetz stemmed from the federal investigation into Greenberg.
The Times wrote that the Department of Justice is looking into "whether he had a sexual relationship with a 17-year-old and paid for her to travel with him," possibly violating federal sex-trafficking laws. The investigation was opened by the Department of Justice in the final months of former President Donald Trump's administration, according to The Times.
Since news of the sex-trafficking probe broke, the story has taken many turns .
Gaetz immediately denied the allegations and claimed that he and his family are victims of an extortion scheme . Hours after Tuesday's story in The Times, Gaetz appeared on Tucker Carlson Tonight on Fox News , vehemently denying the allegations and repeating the extortion claims.
Gaetz said the extortion scheme started weeks ago, but the sex-trafficking investigation started last year .
On Thursday, separate from the investigation, CNN also reported that Gaetz showed House colleagues nude photos of women he had slept with, and bragged openly about his sex life.
Insider reached out to Gaetz's office for additional comment.
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