Ex-Cong. Matt Gaetz Faces Alleged Sex Trafficking Suit; Plaintiffs' Lawyer Calls Texts 'Incredibly Damaging'

Two women have sued former US congressman Matt Gaetz over an alleged sex-trafficking scheme involving payments, drugs and travel, with their lawyer describing text messages linked to the case as 'incredibly damaging'.

Gaetz has disputed the allegations. 'I look forward to taking the plaintiffs' depositions because much of the conduct alleged against me is false,' he said in a statement provided to a West Palm Beach broadcaster.

Lawsuit Details Payments and Alleged Sexual Encounters

Filed on 15 October 2026 in the US District Court for the Middle District of Florida, the complaint names Gaetz, former Seminole County tax collector Joel Greenberg, former Florida state representative Christopher Dorworth and related businesses.

The plaintiffs, identified as Jane Doe 1 and Jane Doe 2, were 20 and 22, respectively, when they first became involved in the alleged scheme in 2017, according to the complaint. They seek damages under a federal law allowing victims to bring civil claims over alleged trafficking.

'The text messages we have we believe are incredibly damaging to Mr Gaetz and Mr Greenberg,' Spencer Kuvin, a Florida attorney representing the women, told WPTV.

The complaint describes alleged activity from 2017 to January 2019, including recruitment through SeekingArrangement.com, payments, drug use and interstate and international travel. It identifies alleged encounters in several locations, including Miami, Las Vegas, the Florida Keys and New York City.

The women allege that the defendants exploited their financial vulnerability through promises of support and small or incomplete payments that kept them dependent. They also allege that access to some outings was conditional on performing sexual acts.

Complaint Cites Payments and Alleged Encounter Involving Minor

According to the complaint, Gaetz paid Jane Doe 1 more than $6,000 (about £4,530) and Jane Doe 2 more than $4,000 (about £3,020). Some transfers allegedly carried descriptions including 'Being my friend', 'Car deductible' and 'Love you', alongside a reference to travel.

The filing also names Greenberg Dental Associates LLC, Greenberg Dental & Orthodontics PA, Greenberg Dental Specialty Group LLC and AWG Inc. as defendants.

Jane Doe 1 alleges that she witnessed Gaetz having sex with a 17-year-old girl at Dorworth's home on 15 July 2017. The girl, identified in the filing as Victim A, is not one of the plaintiffs.

These are allegations in a civil complaint and have not been established in court.

Gaetz Denies Allegations and Challenges Ethics Report

Gaetz also criticised the congressional investigation on which the lawsuit draws, saying he had not been able to confront his accusers.

'The lawsuit relies almost exclusively on a Congressional Committee Report that didn't allow me to confront my accusers. Now I will finally have that chance,' he said in his statement to WPTV.

The US Department of Justice previously investigated Gaetz but closed its inquiry without bringing criminal charges. That decision is separate from the new civil lawsuit.

Lawsuit Draws on Earlier House Ethics Inquiry

The House Ethics Committee released a report on 23 December 2024 finding 'substantial evidence' that Gaetz had paid women for sex, used or possessed cocaine and ecstasy, and violated House rules.

The committee said there was insufficient evidence to conclude that he had violated the federal sex-trafficking statute.

The plaintiffs cite findings and records described in the committee report as corroboration of their allegations. Their complaint does not treat the congressional inquiry as having established civil trafficking liability.

Greenberg, a former ally of Gaetz, pleaded guilty to sex trafficking a minor and related offences. He was sentenced to 11 years in prison in December 2022 and agreed to cooperate with investigators.

His conviction is separate from the allegations against Gaetz, Dorworth and the business defendants in the new lawsuit.

Gaetz's Political Career and Florida Board Role

Gaetz represented Florida in the US House of Representatives from 2017 until November 2024. He resigned after Donald Trump announced his intention to nominate him for attorney general, then subsequently withdrew from consideration.

He later became a media personality for One America News Network.

Florida House Speaker Daniel Perez also appointed Gaetz to the Triumph Gulf Coast board, which distributes settlement funds from the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill for economic development projects in north-west Florida.

The board appointment is separate from the civil lawsuit, in which the plaintiffs are seeking damages and a jury trial.