The woman central to the Justice Department’s yearslong investigation into sex trafficking allegations against former Rep. Matt Gaetz testified to the House Ethics Committee that the Florida congressman had sex with her when she was 17, sources familiar with the investigation told ABC News.
In a surprising twist, President-elect Donald Trump announced Wednesday that Gaetz would serve as attorney general, overseeing the Justice Department that had previously investigated him. The investigation ended last year without charges. Gaetz resigned following the announcement, as the Ethics Committee was reportedly in the final stages of its own probe and preparing to deliberate on releasing a final report.
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Over the summer, the Ethics Committee subpoenaed the woman—now in her 20s—who testified for multiple days, alleging that Gaetz had engaged in sexual activity with her when she was a high school minor. Gaetz has repeatedly denied the allegations, calling them “invented” and claiming they amount to “false testimony to Congress.”
The Justice Department spent years investigating allegations against Gaetz, including possible obstruction of justice, before notifying him in 2023 that no charges would be filed. Despite this, the Ethics Committee continued its probe, interviewing several women who alleged they attended parties with Gaetz and were paid by his former associate Joel Greenberg.
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Greenberg, a former Seminole County tax collector, was a key figure in the investigation. He pleaded guilty in 2021 to multiple federal crimes, including sex trafficking of the minor at the center of the case. According to his plea agreement, Greenberg introduced the minor to “adult men” for commercial sex acts, including in situations where drugs were present.
The House Ethics Committee also interviewed Gaetz’s former girlfriend, who previously testified before a grand jury in the Justice Department’s investigation. The committee obtained written testimony and Venmo payment records linking Gaetz to parties in 2017 where the alleged victim and other women said drugs and sex were involved.
Gaetz has dismissed the allegations, denying he ever engaged in sexual activity with a minor or paid for sex. He described payments as “generosity to ex-girlfriends,” rejecting accusations of misconduct.
The Ethics Committee reportedly subpoenaed the Justice Department for records related to its investigation, though it remains unclear whether all requested documents were turned over. The committee has acquired some Venmo records and other evidence, which sources say corroborate aspects of Greenberg’s claims.
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The Ethics Committee’s final report is expected to address whether Gaetz violated congressional rules or engaged in illegal conduct. Trump’s decision to appoint Gaetz as attorney general has sparked significant backlash, with critics questioning the move given the unresolved nature of the allegations.