Matt Gaetz, an American lawyer and Florida congressman, is currently under investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation regarding sexual accusations that have recently appeared in published reports.
The allegations include sex trafficking and prostitution allegedly involving a minor, according to the FBI. Gaetz is accused of having sexual relations, sometimes involving the illegal drug ecstasy, with numerous women and supposedly a 17-year-old girl. Authorities believe he paid the teen to cross state lines for sexual activity.
Investigators say Gaetz official utilized “sugardaddy” websites to find the women and the mobile payment apps Apple Pay and Cash App to pay all of them, including the minor, for sex.
“Federal law prohibits giving a minor anything of value in exchange for sex, including meals, hotel stays, drugs, alcohol or even cigarettes. A conviction under the sex trafficking statute carries a 10-year mandatory minimum prison sentence,” explained a New York Times article discussing the premise of the allegations.
Gaetz is also under fire for supposedly showcasing nude photos of women on the House floor. The Washington Examiner secured documents from Gaetz which alluded to the FBI discovering “compromising photos” of the women. Gaetz also allegedly showed off the photos to colleagues and bragged about his sexual exploits.
A New York Times report brought to light another instance involving Gaetz in which he challenged other Florida legislators in a game structured by a point system to see who could gain the most points by sleeping with an intern, aide or a married associate.
The congressman is currently in his second term in the U.S. House of Representatives. Gaetz was first elected for a position in the U.S. Congress in 2016 and became more acclimated to the public eye in 2017 when he appeared on many cable news outlets. The right-wing paladin became an outspoken ally and friend to former president Donald Trump.
The investigation was opened by Trump’s Attorney General William P. Barr. Trump has kept distance from the situation.
No charges have been filed against Gaetz and the Florida Republican denies all accusations and refuses to resign. Gaetz also claims that he is being targeted due to his political power and a misunderstanding of his generosity to ex-girlfriends.
Gaetz recently appeared on Tucker Carlson’s Fox News show and explained that his father received a text message in early March that demanded $25 million in exchange for expunging the sex trafficking accusations.
“What is happening is an extortion of me and my family involving a former Department of Justice official,” said Gaetz during Carlson’s on-air interview. “It is a horrible allegation, and it is a lie.”