Representative Matt Gaetz, President-elect Donald Trump’s pick for Attorney General, is facing renewed scrutiny over allegations of paying for sex at private parties in Florida in 2017. According to attorney Joel Leppard, who represents two women making these claims, Gaetz was allegedly involved in sexual encounters at a small, invitation-only event while he was a House member. One of the women claims she witnessed Gaetz having sex with her then-17-year-old friend at the gathering.
The explosive accusations add another layer of controversy to Gaetz’s public profile as he prepares for a challenging Senate confirmation. Leppard stated that both women testified before the House Ethics Committee, providing extensive documentation, including text messages. NBC News reviewed a subpoena related to their testimony.
One of Leppard’s clients, 19 at the time, alleges Gaetz immediately brought her upstairs for sex upon their introduction. Later that night, she purportedly witnessed Gaetz with her underage friend, further intensifying the claims. Leppard’s clients insist they have no political motivations and simply want the truth to be known, pressing for the release of the Ethics Committee’s report on Gaetz.
The Justice Department previously investigated Gaetz for sex-trafficking allegations but declined to press charges. Gaetz has consistently denied all accusations, attributing them to an extortion plot. Trump’s transition spokesman called the allegations “baseless” and framed them as an attempt to derail Gaetz’s confirmation.
Complicating matters, the women testified about coded text messages involving “party favors” as slang for drugs at these gatherings. While Gaetz’s representatives have largely stayed silent, the mounting claims threaten to overshadow his potential appointment.
