# Lawsuit accuses former Rep. Matt Gaetz of 'sugar daddy' sex trafficking

> Former Rep. Matt Gaetz faces federal lawsuit over alleged sex trafficking of minors while in Congress.
- Title: Lawsuit accuses former Rep. Matt Gaetz of 'sugar daddy' sex…
- Summary: Former Rep. Matt Gaetz faces federal lawsuit over alleged sex trafficking of minors while in Congress. A federal lawsuit claims former Rep. Matt Gaetz and…
- Keywords: civil court, department of justice, donald trump, florida, house ethics committee, house of representatives, lawsuit, matt gaetz, sex trafficking, news, politics, world
- Source: Straight Arrow — https://san.com/cc/lawsuit-accuses-former-rep-matt-gaetz-of-sugar-daddy-sex-trafficking-while-serving-in-congress
- Published: 2026-10-16T18:23:54+00:00
- Read time: 2 min
- Topics: civil court, department of justice, donald trump, florida, house ethics committee, house of representatives, lawsuit, matt gaetz, sex trafficking, news, politics, world
## Lawsuit alleges sex trafficking
A federal lawsuit accuses former Rep. Matt Gaetz and two men of sex trafficking involving recent high school graduates from 2017 to 2019.

> The lawsuit accuses former Rep. Matt Gaetz of 'sugar daddy' sex trafficking while serving in Congress
## Gaetz served in Congress until 2024
Gaetz represented Florida’s 1st District from 2017 until he resigned in 2024 after President Donald Trump nominated him to serve as U.S. attorney general.

> Gaetz represented Florida’s 1st District from 2017 until he resigned in 2024 after President Donald Trump nominated him to serve as U.S. attorney general
## House Ethics Committee report
The House Ethics Committee report released in December 2024 concluded Gaetz paid women for sex between 2017 and 2020 and violated state and federal laws.

> The House Ethics Committee report released in December 2024 concluded Gaetz paid women for sex between 2017 and 2020 and violated state and federal laws
## Co-defendant Greenberg convicted
Joel Greenberg, a co-defendant, is currently serving 11 years in a Florida federal prison on sex trafficking and fraud convictions.

> Joel Greenberg is currently serving 11 years in a Florida federal prison on sex trafficking and fraud convictions
## Alleged 'sugar daddy' scheme
The lawsuit claims Gaetz, Greenberg, and former Florida state Rep. Chris Dorworth recruited economically vulnerable young women for sexual exploitation between 2017 and 2019.

> The lawsuit claims Gaetz, Greenberg, and former Florida state Rep. Chris Dorworth recruited economically vulnerable young women for sexual exploitation between 2017 and 2019
## Gaetz denies allegations
Gaetz has long denied wrongdoing and says the new allegations are false, claiming the lawsuit relies on a House Ethics Committee report that didn’t allow him to confront accusers.

> Gaetz has long denied wrongdoing and says the new allegations are false, claiming the lawsuit relies on a House Ethics Committee report that didn’t allow him to confront accusers
## Gaetz posts social media screenshot
Gaetz shared a social media screenshot showing three women on a beach with the hashtag 'Bahamas' in an attempt to identify one of the plaintiffs.

> Gaetz shared a social media screenshot showing three women on a beach with the hashtag 'Bahamas' in an attempt to identify one of the plaintiffs
## Gaetz questions plaintiff's lawyer
Gaetz asked if the plaintiff in the photo knew about the social media post when she filed the lawsuit, claiming she was 'celebrating her vacation' and now 'alleging wrongdoing'.

> Gaetz asked if the plaintiff in the photo knew about the social media post when she filed the lawsuit, claiming she was 'celebrating her vacation' and now 'alleging wrongdoing'
## Lawsuit details travel scheme
The lawsuit alleges Gaetz, Greenberg, and Dorworth arranged and funded travel for the plaintiffs to locations including Miami, Las Vegas, New York, and the Bahamas.

> The lawsuit alleges Gaetz, Greenberg, and Dorworth arranged and funded travel for the plaintiffs to locations including Miami, Las Vegas, New York, and the Bahamas
## Gaetz's response to lawsuit
Gaetz stated he would take the plaintiffs' depositions to prove the allegations are false and that the lawsuit relies on a report that didn't allow him to confront accusers.

> Gaetz stated he would take the plaintiffs' depositions to prove the allegations are false and that the lawsuit relies on a report that didn't allow him to confront accusers
## Key takeaway

A federal lawsuit claims former Rep. Matt Gaetz and two men sexually exploited minors between 2017 and 2019.