Matt Gaetz accused of paying woman for sex parties as new bombshell texts emerge

The House Ethics Committee’s probe into Matt Gaetz has obtained 2017 texts that the Florida Republican allegedly sent to a young woman who had been paid for sex by his associate.

These messages, ABC News first reported, show Mr Gaetz, just months after he was elected into Congress, asking the unnamed woman to go on a trip with him to the Florida Keys in May 2017. The exchange signifies the first private exchange between the pair, the outlet wrote.

According to the outlet, Mr Gaetz texted, “Hey — any interest in flying on a private plane to the keys May 19-21?” The then-freshman Congressman added that the trip would feature “2 guys, 4 girls. A very high-quality adventurous group.”

“Yeah I’m in,” the woman replied.

The Florida lawmaker then reportedly wrote: “Fantastic. As is true with all time you spend w me, it’ll be fun and chill…You have a passport?”

ABC News noted that the woman did not ultimately go on this trip.

Mr Gaetz’s then-friend and business associate Joel Greenberg had already sent this same woman money for sex. In May 2021, Greenberg pleaded guilty to six federal crimes, which include sex trafficking of a minor, identity theft, stalking, wire fraud, and conspiracy to bribe a public official.

The House panel also obtained a photo of the pair, dated 19 May 2017. The selfie photo allegedly captured the woman beside Mr Gaetz wearing a shirt with a quote from medical research advocate Mary Lasker:”If you think research is expensive, try disease.”

A Gaetz spokesperson told ABC News, “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