Two women sue ex-Rep. Matt Gaetz in Florida federal court, alleging sex trafficking
In short
Two women identified as Jane Doe 1 and Jane Doe 2 have filed a federal civil lawsuit in Florida accusing former Rep. Matt Gaetz and two others of taking part in sex trafficking. Gaetz denied much of the alleged conduct and said he looks forward to deposing the plaintiffs.
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Two women have filed a civil lawsuit against former Rep. Matt Gaetz, accusing him and others of sex trafficking. The Guardian US reported that the 38-page suit was filed in the US District Court for the Middle District of Florida. The women appear as Jane Doe 1 and Jane Doe 2. The Seattle Times described the court as federal court in Orlando. [ 2 , 5 ]
According to the Guardian US and the Boston Globe, the plaintiffs say Gaetz and two others coordinated "the recruitment, payments, drugs, and travel to obtain commercial sexual acts" from them. Newsweek and The Hill named the other defendants as former Seminole County tax collector Joel Greenberg and a former Florida state lawmaker, Christopher Dorworth. The Hill said three dental practices associated with Greenberg are also defendants, and that the Miami Herald first reported the suit. [ 2 , 3 , 7 , 8 ]
The documents differ on the period covered. The Guardian US and Newsweek said the suit covers 2017 through January 2019, while The Hill said it covers the summer of 2017 to December 2019. The Hill said the women were 20 and 22 when they met Gaetz, and the Seattle Times said they were in their early 20s and met him through Greenberg. According to the Boston Globe, the suit says one woman had sex with Gaetz at a party at Dorworth's home in July 2017. [ 2 , 3 , 5 , 7 , 8 ]
Gaetz denied the allegations. He said in a statement, "I look forward to taking the plaintiffs' depositions because much of the conduct alleged against me is false," and that the suit relies almost exclusively on a Congressional Committee report that did not allow him to confront his accusers. The Seattle Times reported that he also shared a 2018 photograph on X of three women in bathing suits in the Bahamas, saying he was shocked nobody responded to their "repeated cries for help, posted to instagram." [ 2 , 3 , 5 , 6 ]
Spencer Kuvin, the attorney for the two women, told Newsweek that Gaetz and the other defendants should be criminally prosecuted. Politico reported that Gaetz said he would vigorously contest the allegations. [ 1 , 3 ]
The suit comes nearly two years after the House Ethics Committee report, which said Gaetz had regularly paid for sex, including once with a 17-year-old girl, according to the Seattle Times. The Guardian US and the Boston Globe said Gaetz resigned from Congress in November 2024, and the report helped sink his nomination as attorney general. The Guardian US said Greenberg pleaded guilty in May 2021 to six federal offenses and was sentenced to 11 years in federal prison. [ 2 , 5 , 8 ]
Why it matters
The suit revives allegations that the outlets link to the House Ethics Committee report and to Gaetz's failed nomination as attorney general. It is a civil case, and the claims have not been tested in court.
Key facts
- Two women filed a 38-page civil lawsuit in the US District Court for the Middle District of Florida, naming themselves as Jane Doe 1 and Jane Doe 2. [ 2 , 3 , 8 ]
- The suit names Gaetz, former Seminole County tax collector Joel Greenberg and former Florida state lawmaker Christopher Dorworth as defendants. [ 3 , 7 , 8 ]
- The plaintiffs say the defendants coordinated recruitment, payments, drugs and travel to obtain commercial sexual acts from them. [ 2 , 7 , 8 ]
- Gaetz said much of the conduct alleged against him is false and that the suit relies almost exclusively on a Congressional Committee report. [ 2 , 3 , 5 , 6 ]
- The women's attorney, Spencer Kuvin, told Newsweek that Gaetz and the other defendants should be criminally prosecuted. [ 3 ]
- Greenberg is serving a federal prison sentence. [ 2 , 5 , 8 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- Two women filed a federal lawsuit in Florida accusing former Rep. Matt Gaetz of sex trafficking or sexual exploitation. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 ]
- The lawsuit also names Joel Greenberg, a former Seminole County tax collector, as a defendant. [ 2 , 3 , 5 , 7 , 8 ]
- Gaetz denied much of the alleged conduct, saying he looks forward to taking the plaintiffs' depositions. [ 2 , 3 ]
- Christopher Dorworth, a former Florida state lawmaker, is named as a defendant. [ 3 , 7 , 8 ]
- The House Ethics Committee report on Gaetz helped derail his nomination as attorney general. [ 3 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 ]
Still unclear
- The period covered by the alleged conduct. Documents 2, 3 and 8 give 2017 to January 2019 or 2017 to 2019, while document 7 says summer 2017 to December 2019.
- Whether the allegations are true. They come from the plaintiffs' civil complaint, and Gaetz says much of the conduct alleged against him is false.
- Whether criminal charges will follow. Kuvin said the defendants should be criminally prosecuted, but the documents report no criminal action.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- Politico published its report, saying Gaetz would vigorously contest the allegations. [ 1 ]
- The Guardian US published its report on the suit, including Gaetz's denial. [ 2 ]
- Newsweek published a report quoting attorney Spencer Kuvin and Gaetz. [ 3 ]
- The Associated Press published its report on the suit. [ 4 ]
- The Hill published its report, saying the Miami Herald first reported the lawsuit. [ 7 ]