Internet befuddled as House committee obtains texts allegedly showing Matt Gaetz arranging vacation with woman his friend paid for sex

TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA: Congressional House Ethics investigators have obtained text messages allegedly revealing that a few months after joining Congress, Rep Matt Gaetz invited a woman who had received payments in exchange for sex from his then-close friend Joel Greenberg to join him and others on a three-day trip to the Florida Keys in May 2017, as per ABC News.

The young woman, who remains unidentified, appears to have received a text message from the then-freshman congressman asking whether she would be willing to fly on a private plane to the Florida Keys for a trip that would include Gaetz, three other women, and one other man.

According to sources familiar with the situation, she eventually declined to go on the trip.

What did the text messages exchanged between Rep Matt Gaetz and the young woman reveal?

Gaetz allegedly texted the woman, who was older than 21 at the time, "Hey -- any interest in flying on a private plane to the keys May 19-21?"

The text messages, which had not previously been reported on, allegedly show him stating that the getaway would include "2 guys, 4 girls. A very high-quality adventurous group.”

"Yeah I'm in," answered the young woman, and Gaetz then allegedly responded with, "Fantastic. As is true with all time you spend w me, it'll be fun and chill […] You have a passport?"

According to documents and interviews with multiple sources, the text messages are the first known example of alleged direct private communication between the Florida Rep and a woman whom his former close associate Greenberg told investigators he had been paying to have sex with other men.

It's unclear whether Rep Gaetz was aware that Greenberg was paying the woman in such a manner.

A spokesperson for him said, "Rep Gaetz has no knowledge of these activities by Mr Greenberg and was not involved in them. Rep Gaetz has never paid for sex. Rep Gaetz does not know anything about the woman you're referencing, though he takes thousands of selfies each year."

What other evidence has been uncovered in this House Ethics Committee probe into Rep Matt Gaetz?

According to insiders, a photograph of Rep Gaetz with the woman has also been handed over to the committee.

The image, dated May 19, 2017, shows the woman smiling in a selfie next to Gaetz, who is wearing a shirt with the statement "If you think research is expensive, try disease," by health advocate Mary W Lasker.

Notably, the young woman had previously received many payments from Greenberg, based on bank and Venmo records analyzed by ABC News.

Multiple sources revealed that these payments were made in exchange for the woman having sex at parties with Greenberg's close companions.

Greenberg, a former Seminole County tax collector, made an agreement with federal investigators in May 2021 to plead guilty to various federal charges, including sex trafficking of a minor and introducing her to other "adult men."

He was a key witness in the Justice Department's years-long investigation into charges that Gaetz trafficked the same youngster who was the victim of the sex trafficking case in which Greenberg pleaded guilty.

The investigation culminated with the DOJ's decision not to file charges against Gaetz.

Meanwhile, the House Ethics Committee launched its own inquiry into the Florida Rep in April 2021, but it was suspended while the Justice Department's investigation was finished.

The Ethics Committee then restarted its investigation in the summer of 2023. 

It's important to note that Rep Gaetz has consistently refuted any misconduct.

The Florida congressman has criticized the Ethics Committee, claiming that its actions are part of a conspiracy by former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy to get back at him for assisting in his removal from the post in 2023.

According to individuals familiar with the committee's work, House investigators have lately increased their investigation into Rep Gaetz, which is looking into allegations that he paid for sex, as well as allegations concerning drug usage and potential lobbying crimes.

The DOJ investigated relevant allegations for years before opting not to file charges.

Since the beginning of 2024, the Ethics Committee has been in contact with multiple witnesses, including Greenberg and the former girlfriend of the congressman in question.

Prior to this, federal investigators had already sought information about a separate trip that Gaetz allegedly took in 2018 to the Bahamas with women whom Greenberg claimed he had been paying for sexual favors.

Officials were attempting to ascertain whether Gaetz had received travel and entertainment in exchange for political favors. Sources with knowledge of the investigation have stated that House investigators have already conducted at least one interview with a witness who was allegedly part of that trip.

It is currently unknown whether the text messages concerning the planned 2017 Florida Keys trip were also examined by federal investigators.

Internet slams Rep Matt Gaetz over the puzzling text messages

Soon after Gaetz's supposed text messages to the young woman came to light, netizens couldn't help but slam the Florida Rep, with many highlighting the ongoing ethics committee investigation. 

One remarked, "Getting a little sick of the smoking gun thing. It’s been going on for ever. We need to wake up Garland and the DOJ and charge Gaetz."

Another said, "If Congress follows through on this the GQP will will lose their majority. There’s no way the House GOP will pursue this. He will be in his seat until he’s convicted in court."

A person declared, "Expel Matt Gaetz!" Someone else quipped, "Republicans are going to be the 1st party to move themselves out of the majority without having to face the voters."

This article contains remarks made on the Internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online.