Witness tells House Ethics Committee that Rep. Matt Gaetz paid her for sex: Report

The House Ethics Committee has intensified its investigation of Rep. Matt Gaetz by interviewing several women behind closed doors as part of its inquiry into sex trafficking allegations against the Florida Republican, according to a new report.

The committee’s investigators have spoken to at least a half-dozen women who were allegedly present at parties attended by Mr. Gaetz and who received payments from Joel Greenberg, the congressman’s former associate, ABC News reported, citing sources familiar with the situation.

Greenberg was sentenced in 2022 to 11 years in federal prison for multiple offenses including sex trafficking a minor, and is said to have introduced the minor to other adult men. During the interviews, some women were shown Venmo transactions from Mr. Gaetz and questioned if those payments were linked to sexual activities.

One woman, who remains anonymous, reportedly confirmed to the committee that a payment from Mr. Gaetz was for sexual activities, ABC reported. Others stated they were compensated to attend parties involving drugs and sex, where Mr. Gaetz was present.

The House Ethics Committee provided an update on Tuesday, stating that after interviewing more than a dozen witnesses, issuing 25 subpoenas, and examining thousands of documents, they will continue investigating claims that Mr. Gaetz engaged in sexual misconduct and illicit drug use, and attempted to obstruct government investigations into his actions.

Mr. Gaetz has consistently denied all allegations, asserting that any financial transactions were merely gestures of generosity toward former girlfriends. In 2023, the Justice Department decided not to press charges against Mr. Gaetz after an extensive investigation.

In a fundraising email on Thursday, Mr. Gaetz called the probe “frivolous” and blamed former Speaker Kevin McCarthy, whose ouster last year was orchestrated by Mr. Gaetz. 

“This is Soviet – NOT the United States,” Mr. Gaetz said in the email. “Kevin McCarthy simply showed them the MAN, and now they are trying to find the crime. I won’t be swayed by this nonsense, and Florida won’t be swayed by it. But defending my name against these investigations is honestly expensive.”