Gaetz bragged about ‘access’ to women through Florida tax collector charged in federal case: report

Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) reportedly bragged to people involved in Florida politics that he had met women through a county tax collector who has since been hit with federal sex trafficking charges. 

Two people who heard his comments directly told The Washington Post that Gaetz had also showed them videos of nude women on his phone. Some of the videos were from parties with former Seminole County tax collector Joel Greenberg.

The sources said the women in the videos appeared to be adults.

“Matt was never shy about talking about his relationship to Joel and the access to women that Joel provided him,” one of the sources told the Post. “What these videos implied was that there was something of a sexual nature going on with everyone.” 

The Hill has reached out to Gaetz’s office for comment. 

The claims from sources are the latest about Gaetz, who gained national attention for his vocal support for former President Trump. However, the Florida lawmaker now finds his career threatened by several allegations. 

The New York Times first reported this week that the Department of Justice is investigating him for an alleged inappropriate relationship with a minor and a possible violation of sex trafficking laws.

A subsequent report from the Times stated that the investigation surrounding Gaetz also involves cash paid to women who were reportedly recruited for sex online. The probe into Gaetz involves Greenberg, who allegedly met women online on websites for dates in exchange for gifts and travel. 

According to the Times, messages and interviews indicate that Greenberg and Gaetz directed women to meet them at specific times and locations and laid out money for compensation. People familiar with the matter also told the Times that the drug ecstasy was also involved. 

Greenberg has been charged with sex trafficking of a child and providing payment to people, including a minor, for providing sex.  

Gaetz has denied any relationship with an underage girl and said he and his family are being targeted by a former DOJ official seeking millions of dollars in exchange for making the accusations vanish. 

The latest report is not the first claiming that Gaetz has displayed pictures of women with whom he’s claimed to have had sexual relations.

CNN reported this week that the lawmaker showed photos of nude women who he claimed he had sex with to other lawmakers, including on the House floor.