Former Florida Congressman Matt Gaetz accused of sex trafficking in new federal lawsuit

Gaetz said the accusations are false. He points out the "lawsuit relies almost exclusively on a Congressional Committee report that didn’t allow me to confront my accusers."

By Kevin Killough

Published: October 15, 2026 2:38pm

Former Florida Congressman Matt Gaetz is being accused of sex trafficking in a new federal lawsuit.

Gaetz was filed in the Middle District of Florida on Monday, Mediaite reported.

Also named in the lawsuit are former Seminole County tax collector Joel Greenberg and former Florida Republican House member Christopher Dorworth. The alleged incidents recounted in the lawsuit occurred between 2017 and 2019. They come from two unnamed women who say they were introduced to Gaetz when they were in their 20s.

One of the women alleges she saw Gaetz having sex with a 17-year-old girl, and both allege Gaetz paid them thousands of dollars. The women allege they were supplied with drugs to "facilitate sexual encounters" with Goldberg's associates.

The suit also claims that Gaetz covered up direct involvement in funding the girls' travel using other dependents he recruited.

In a statement to the Miami Herald, Gaetz said the accusations are false. He points out the "lawsuit relies almost exclusively on a Congressional Committee report that didn’t allow me to confront my accusers." He said he's looking forward to taking the plaintiffs' depositions, as it will allow him the opportunity to confront his accusers.