Two Women Sue Matt Gaetz Over Sex Trafficking
Former U.S. Representative Matt Gaetz is facing a federal civil lawsuit filed by two women who allege that he and other men sexually exploited them through a scheme involving payments, drugs, and travel. Filed on October 15, 2026, in federal court in Orlando, Florida, the lawsuit accuses Gaetz, former Seminole County tax collector Joel Greenberg, and former Florida state representative Chris Dorworth of participating in conduct that allegedly violated federal anti-trafficking law. The allegations concern events from 2017 through January 2019, when Gaetz was serving in Congress.
The plaintiffs, identified in court documents as Jane Doe 1 and Jane Doe 2, say they were young adults when they first encountered Greenberg through an online dating platform. According to the complaint, Greenberg recruited the women and introduced them to Gaetz and other men. The lawsuit alleges that the defendants coordinated payments, travel arrangements, accommodation, and drugs to obtain sexual acts. These claims remain allegations, and the plaintiffs must establish the elements of their legal claims through the civil court process.
The complaint describes the women as financially vulnerable and alleges that the defendants used their wealth, social connections, and positions of public influence to exploit that vulnerability. One plaintiff reportedly met Gaetz at a gathering in July 2017, where she alleges that they had sex and that she later witnessed an encounter involving a 17-year-old girl. The lawsuit further alleges that Gaetz paid the younger girl after the encounter. These assertions are serious allegations contained in the filing and have not been established as findings in this civil case.
The first plaintiff alleges that she received payments from Gaetz and Greenberg on multiple occasions between 2017 and early 2019. The complaint describes electronic transfers and payments that the plaintiff says were connected to sexual encounters. It also alleges that the defendants arranged trips to destinations including Miami, the Florida Keys, Las Vegas, the Bahamas, and New York. The plaintiffs contend that travel and lodging were paid for as part of arrangements in which the men expected sexual activity in return.
The second plaintiff alleges that Greenberg invited her to a gathering after promising compensation but providing limited information about what would be expected. She claims that drugs were distributed at the gathering and that she subsequently had sexual encounters with Greenberg and Gaetz. The complaint argues that the broader arrangements were not isolated interactions but part of a pattern involving recruitment, payment, travel, and access to multiple men. The defendants will have the opportunity to contest the plaintiffs’ accounts, challenge the evidence, and present their own explanations during litigation.
The lawsuit also names Chris Dorworth, a former Florida state legislator, alleging that he knowingly participated in the events by making his home available for a gathering connected to the alleged conduct. In addition, the complaint names businesses linked to Greenberg’s family. The claims against each defendant will need to be considered individually, based on the allegations and evidence applicable to that person or entity. Being named in a civil complaint does not itself establish wrongdoing, and the court has not issued a final decision on liability.
Gaetz has denied the allegations, stating that much of the conduct described in the lawsuit is false. He has criticized the complaint’s reliance on a congressional ethics report, arguing that the report did not allow him to confront the people who made accusations against him. Gaetz has said he welcomes the opportunity to question the plaintiffs through depositions and defend himself in court. His response makes clear that the new case is likely to involve disputes over credibility, documentary evidence, the interpretation of payments, and the circumstances surrounding the alleged encounters.
The lawsuit follows a House Ethics Committee investigation that became public in December 2024, after Gaetz had resigned from Congress. The committee’s report said it found evidence that Gaetz paid for sex, including an encounter involving a 17-year-old, and that he used illegal drugs. Gaetz denied wrongdoing. The Justice Department had also investigated allegations involving him but did not bring criminal charges. The new civil lawsuit is a separate legal proceeding, and prior investigative or congressional findings do not automatically establish liability in the current case.
Greenberg’s history is also relevant background to the allegations. In 2021, he pleaded guilty to multiple federal offenses, including sex trafficking of a minor, and was sentenced to 11 years in prison. His criminal case involved a broader investigation into his conduct while serving as Seminole County tax collector. Although his guilty plea is an established legal outcome in his own case, it does not by itself prove every allegation made against Gaetz or Dorworth in the newly filed civil lawsuit. The claims against the other defendants must be evaluated on their own evidence.
The plaintiffs are seeking legal accountability for what they describe as sexual exploitation involving unequal power and financial circumstances. Their attorney has argued that the defendants’ public positions, access to money, and social influence created a substantial imbalance between the men and the women. The lawsuit raises questions about how federal anti-trafficking law applies when alleged commercial sexual activity involves payments, travel, drugs, and individuals who may have been economically vulnerable. The court will need to determine which legal standards apply and whether the evidence supports the claims.
The case now enters the litigation process, where the defendants may respond formally, challenge the legal sufficiency of the claims, and seek discovery of evidence. The plaintiffs will need to support their allegations, while the defendants retain the right to challenge the testimony and documentation presented against them. No final ruling has established that Gaetz or the other defendants are liable. The lawsuit nevertheless renews public scrutiny of allegations that previously affected Gaetz’s political career, while placing the claims before a court that must assess them under established legal procedures.
Key Legal Outcomes
- Civil lawsuit filed: Two women have sued Matt Gaetz and other defendants over alleged sexual exploitation and trafficking-related conduct.
- Federal law invoked: The plaintiffs allege violations of federal anti-trafficking law involving payments, travel, drugs, and sexual acts.
- Multiple defendants named: The lawsuit also names Joel Greenberg, Chris Dorworth, and businesses linked to Greenberg’s family.
- Gaetz denies the allegations: He has said that much of the complaint is false and intends to challenge the claims in court.
- No liability determined: The case has been filed, but the allegations have not been proven and no final judgment has been issued.
Why It Matters
- Sex trafficking enforcement: The lawsuit may test how federal anti-trafficking law applies to alleged arrangements involving payments, travel, and sexual activity.
- Power imbalances: The plaintiffs argue that financial vulnerability and the defendants’ influence played a role in the alleged exploitation.
- Civil accountability: A civil case can proceed independently of whether prosecutors brought criminal charges.
- Evidence and credibility: The litigation may involve scrutiny of electronic payments, travel records, witness testimony, and prior investigative findings.
- Public trust: The case highlights continuing questions about accountability when serious allegations involve former elected officials.
Editorial note: The lawsuit contains allegations, not established findings of liability. Gaetz denies the claims, and the Justice Department’s earlier decision not to charge him is separate from this newly filed civil case.
