Matt Gaetz subpoenaed in friend's lawsuit accusing others of defamation in sex trafficking probe

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., has been subpoenaed to give a deposition as part of a civil lawsuit filed by a longtime friend and political ally who alleges he was defamed during a lengthy Justice Department investigation into accusations that the Florida congressman had sex with a 17-year-old girl.

The underlying lawsuit, filed by former Florida state lawmaker Chris Dorworth, lists several defendants including the young unnamed woman and Joel Greenberg, a former Orlando-area elected tax collector now serving 11 years in prison after pleading guilty to a half dozen federal crimes such as sex trafficking of a minor.

Gaetz, who once called Greenberg his "wingman," faced an investigation launched in 2020 by the Justice Department over allegations he had a sexual relationship with a minor. He was informed last year that no charges would be brought against him.

Dorworth filed his lawsuit after Greenberg alleged that the former Republican legislator had ties to the scandal.

A Gaetz spokesman said Thursday that the congressman is not a party to the underlying lawsuit.

“Congressman Gaetz received a witness subpoena in an ongoing lawsuit between outside parties,” the spokesman said. “He is not being sued, and he is neither a plaintiff nor a defendant at this time.”

The spokesman did not say whether Gaetz would comply with the subpoena.

ABC News first reported on the subpoena.

The DOJ investigation focused, in part, on a trip to the Bahamas and whether girls on that trip were underage and paid to travel for sex, which would violate federal law.

Dorworth told NBC News on Thursday that he believes the push to get Gaetz to give a deposition is a “shameless” attempt by Greenberg, whose family is wealthy and politically