Florida Congressman Matt Gaetz is under Justice Department investigation over a possible sexual relationship with a 17-year-old girl, The New York Times reported Tuesday evening.
The newspaper cited “three people briefed on the matter” and reported that the probe began during the final months of the Trump administration. The sources said investigators are looking into whether the conservative firebrand violated sex trafficking laws.
The sources said the Gaetz inquiry is a sideline to an investigation into one of Gaetz’s political allies, Joel Greenberg, who resigned as Seminole County tax collector following his indictment last summer on charges including sex trafficking.
Gaetz, a Republican whose district includes the far western Panhandle, is closely aligned both with Donald Trump and Gov. Ron DeSantis. He is best known for his appearances on Fox News and political stunts including wearing a gas mask in the U.S. Capitol during the early days of the COVID pandemic.
Gaetz told The Times that the Justice Department has told his lawyers that he is “the subject, not the target,” of the investigation.
“I only know that it has to do with women,” Gaetz told the newspaper. “I have a suspicion that someone is trying to recategorize my generosity to ex-girlfriends as something more untoward.”
The news follows reports, including this one by Axios, that Gaetz was considering leaving Congress to take a broadcasting job with Newsmax, the conservative outlet.
Also rumored is that Gaetz might contemplate a run for the statewide Florida Agriculture Commissioner, according to various news outlets. Current Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried is a Democrat.
Update: Gaetz published a denial of wrongdoing on his Twitter feed.
“Over the past several weeks my family and I have been victims of an organized criminal extortion involving a former DOJ official seeking $25 million while threatening to smear my name. We have been cooperating with federal authorities in this matter,” he wrote.
“And my father has even been wearing a wire at the FBI’s direction to catch these criminals. The planted leak to the FBI tonight was intended to thwart that investigation. No part of the allegations against me are true, and the people pushing these lies are targets of the ongoing extortion investigation.
“I demand the DOJ immediately release the tapes, made at their direction, which implicate their former colleague in crimes against me based on false allegations.”
–Michael Moline, Florida Phoenix
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Steve says
Well what goes around comes around and He is innocent til proven guilty but something has always stunk about this creep hence the gas mask. Surprised something hadnt come out on his relationship with his alleged adopted minor Son. Word is he went with the Adoption to keep the boy quiet about their relationship. So Matt knows all about Extortion. Nonetheless maybe Joe Mullins can go live and Campaign for that Seat seems it will be empty soon, just a thought lolol How the self indulged mighty fall. The video or interview rant by him on Fox with Tucker from last nite is bizarre check it out for yourself. When Carlson says its weird not good.
Brandon Cross says
Remember… anyone can be investigated especially if one is a known right winger.
Let’s see what is said when he is exonerated.
Steve says
Especially No one, he is being Investigated along with his Allie Greenberg out of Seminole County as part of that dirtbags dealings in underage Human Trafficking Conspiracy. Hes not being picked on for his Politics. He may be complicit with a Trafficker who is all but going to jail already on several different counts. Guilty by Association I think not. In the interview Mattie is lying thru his teeth. You dont need an expert to tell you that.Gaetz has a wide eyed story to tell until the truth comes out. IMO Get your facts straight before you go to the WOE IS ME GOP Card.
mausborn says
What is the Florida GOP doing to protect our kids from dangerous Republican predators such as Matt Gaetz?
JL says
Where’s the evidence? It smells like just another smear job by the media. Anything to come from mainstream media is more BS and propaganda.
Bill C says
Trump loyalist Gaetz is imitating his mentor right down to abusing women, in this case an under age girl. Birds of a feather. Paging Jeffery Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell.
tulip says
re Bill C’s comment: It’s the new Republican Trumpean way
Inthenameofunity says
Hold on and wait a little bit. Let’s see what pans out
David Schaefer says
Your done son go live with your boy Trump.
steve says
He gets charged and convicted Matt will have a cell mate
Hahahahahahaha says
The Republican Party is the party of projection. They also protest too much against certain issues when many of them engage in the same. They are hypocrites, plain and simple. I’m sure when Maxwell talks, we’ll hear all sorts of names revealed including Clinton and Trump. Trump was awful chummy with two of the biggest pedos on the planet. The fact that so many people on his election team in various states have been arrested for sex trafficking…well now, he would naturally gravitate to those most like him—a rapist pedo con man. Gaetz is screwed, no pun intended.
Bruce Bradley says
Let’s not forget that Republican states solved the pedophilia problem by making it legal to marry a 12-year-old. Recently, in one state, Republicans tried to completely remove any mention of age in their marriage law.
Richard says
Dems grasping at straws while the possum (aka Biden) is destroying the chicken coop.
Rick G says
Yes we shall see…. its somewhat amusing to me that the party of moral superiority has all of these suspect members… 45, Gaetz, Gym Jordan…
marlee says
Matt Gaetz has been one of the most prolific supporters of the big lie about a stolen election.
Why trust him now???
John Stove says
This is too rich….the FBI, DOJ and super Trump loyalist Attorney General Bill Barr all approved this investigation and people are defending Gaetz?
Folks you dont get that kind of fire power in an investigation if something isnt right. He even tried to drag in another Idiot in Tucker Carlson/Fox News who quickly backpedaled his way out of it.
Yes, innocent until proven guilty but if it walks like a duck and quacks like a duck….its a duck.
The fact that he is already talking about leaving congress and going to work for Fox/Newsmaxx etc also tells you that he knows the hammer is about to fall.
Georgia Peach says
I see the scumbag socialist left are yet again trying to slander and disgrace another TRUE AMERICAN PATRIOT . And I see the same socialist liberal tools on this website are taking the bait as usual. SAD, really SAD !!!!
mausborn says
Who wants to bet now that this happened Trump is going to offer piz za gae tz the vice president ticket on his next failed presidential bid.
For people saying this is the Democrats seeking dirt on a Republican, just remember that Barr, Trump’s attorney general, is the one that started the investigation.
With hair like that I’d say he’s guilty.
JimBob says
Thank God there were 11,800 more Georgians with better sense than the ol’ Peach here.
Disgusted and Reviled says
The man is beyond disgusting and has used family money to bail him out over and over. I doubt this time that old trick is going to work. Karma is a bitch Matt baby.
bob says
If the issue has to deal with a conservative, he or she is always guilty. If the virus spikes it our governors fault. My questions is Where’s Hunter ? Where are the illegals crossing the border at an ever increasing rate? Oh, I forgot that’s Trumps fault. Could it also be that the illegals are causing a spike in the viruobs? Why aren’t these issues brought up now that Biden is our “President” ?
mausborn says
a republican… involved with a p.o.s.t.i.t.u.te ….. a very young girl!!!! nooooo way!!!!! it cannot be!!!!!LOLOL!!!!Why isn’t Trump supporting him now in his moment of need? Reciprocal.
mausborn says
Dumb republican party however, will keep funding his campaigns, you can be sure of that!
Sounds like Gaetz knew he was never going to win re-election once this investigation came out, or at least thought he wouldn’t. Republicans have a history of electing child abusers and rapists now. i.e. Trump. So he’ll probably be the first Congressman to work from prison.
The Cheneys always pay their debts. Gaetz made a big mistake going to Wyoming! Karma train has arrived!
My Thoughts says
Amazing Trump’s buddies are criminals or perverts. Bet if they dig deeper into this Trump’s name will come up along with Jeffery Epsteins.
Wonder how Daddy is going to get him out of this one?
Steve says
There goes a senior staffer.. luke ball communications director like rats from a sinking ship
Steve says
As this unwinds starting to look damning especially for Greenberg who is already charged ( He had more dropped on him this week) and in jail for violating Pre Trial release Terms. The Females involved have already spoke their peace. Now as far as the Politicians its who rats out on whom first. I have my popcorn at the ready
Steve says
As of an hour ago seems Joel Greenberg is cooperating with the DOJ and will accept a Plea thru his Attorney. The cost is the goods on the Congressman. Then Dr. Pirroloozo is next, another Central Florida wingman, who is implicated in bringing Gaetz to the Bahamas along with some paid Escorts for the trip, allegedly. Pirroloozo a Dr and Marijuana Entreprenuer was seated on the Board of OIA in Orlando by Desantis on the recommendation of Gaetz. So as the plot thickens it also unwinds and Gaetz who is speaking at Trumps Doral Resort today to a Conservative Womens group might be feeling a bit uncomfortable being in such a tight spot. The shoe drop is Imminent IMO.
David S. says
Lock them all up……
Steve says
So another Senior Aide in the Gaetz camp is gone. As of today Matt has hired some high powered Attorneys who have represented 45 in the past and still do today thru the Trump Organization. Why one who is innocent would have to Lawyer up is mere speculation but very well could have been some of the comments by Greenbergs Attorney that got their attention. The circumstantial evidence in the Public domain increases by the dayand is significant in its volume but many have alluded to substantial evidence with regard to bills texts phone conversations money transfers..etc. It goes on. Time will tell but some experienced former Federal Prosecutors are saying Charges are imminent for Gaetz.