Two women sue Matt Gaetz over trafficking allegations

Two women filed a federal civil lawsuit on October 15 accusing former Florida congressman Matt Gaetz and two associates of participating in an alleged sex trafficking scheme involving paid sexual encounters, drugs and travel. The allegations concern conduct from 2017 through January 2019 and have not been established in court. The complaint, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida, names Gaetz, former Seminole County tax collector Joel Greenberg and former Florida state lawmaker Christopher Dorworth as defendants. The plaintiffs, identified as Jane Doe 1 and Jane Doe 2, allege that the men coordinated recruitment, payments, drugs and travel to obtain commercial sexual encounters. They say the defendants used money and personal connections to exploit young women. The women seek civil remedies under federal sex trafficking laws and a jury trial. Their filing also names three dental companies described as affiliated with Greenberg, alleging they supplied funds for the conduct. The complaint’s claims against the companies, like those against the individual defendants, remain allegations. Gaetz denied much of the alleged conduct and said he looked...