A new super PAC out of Florida is running an ad that hits Rep. Matt Gaetz on a friendship he had with a convicted sex trafficker.
The 30-second ad, which is run by the Florida Patriots super PAC, talks about Mr. Gaetz’s relationship with Joel Greenberg, a former Seminole County tax collector who pleaded guilty in 2022 to underage sex trafficking, wire fraud, stalking and related charges.
“2017. Congressman Matt Gaetz forms a close friendship with future convicted sex trafficker Joel Greenberg,” the narrator says in the ad, first posted by Punchbowl News. “Matt Gaetz is going to the White House and Joel Greenberg is going with him.”
The ad accuses Mr. Gaetz of purchasing sex via Mr. Greenberg, a claim the Congressman denies.
“Gaetz allegedly grooms Greenberg for higher political office, then makes payments to him. Greenberg reportedly uses a sugar daddy app to find college girls and pays for sex on Congressman Gaetz’s behalf,” the ad says. “That’s a close friendship with the real Matt Gaetz.”
The video features pictures of the two men together.
Punchbowl reported that the person behind the new super PAC is unknown. The PAC also released an ad supporting Aaron Dimmock, Mr. Gaetz’s challenger in the Republican primary.
In an X post, Mr. Gaetz said, “Is this an ad buy or a cry for help?”
“Hey (former) @speakermccarthy — therapy is cheaper,” he said. “Try BetterHelp dot com!”
His comments were in response to an X post that showcased money spent by the Florida Patriots PAC on radio, TV, digital ads and text messages in support of Mr. Dimmock and against Mr. Gaetz, calling it part of “the Kevin McCarthy Revenge Tour.”
Mr. Gaetz was the main force behind the historic ouster of former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, California Republican, in October.
Mr. McCarthy ultimately wound up leaving his seat in Congress early, and started backing the primary challengers of the Republicans who wronged him, including Mr. Gaetz and Rep. Nancy Mace, South Carolina Republican.
Mr. Gaetz, Florida Republican, also faced a probe by the House ethics committee over accusations of sexual misconduct, bribery, illicit drug use and sharing inappropriate images or videos on the House floor. But the panel is no longer looking into those charges.
The investigation was first launched in May 2021, but was put on hold after the Biden administration’s Justice Department said it wanted to get involved. The committee reopened its investigation last year after the DOJ declined to press charges in February 2023, reportedly because of difficulties in proving the claims.
The ethics panel said last month that it is now looking into two separate accusations against Mr. Gaetz, including whether he gave special privileges and favors to other people with whom he had a personal relationship, and that he “sought to obstruct government investigations of his conduct.”
He has denied all accusations of wrongdoing, while acknowledging a friendship with Mr. Greenberg, which he has said “I deeply regret.”
The Washington Times has reached to Mr. Gaetz’s reelection campaign for comment.
• Mallory Wilson can be reached at mwilson@washingtontimes.com.
Please read our comment policy before commenting.