A woman testified before the House Ethics Committee, claiming she witnessed former Congressman Matt Gaetz engaging in sexual intercourse with a minor at a 2017 party in Orlando, Florida. According to her attorney, Joel Leppard, the woman provided detailed testimony about the alleged incident earlier this year, which was presented to the committee in April. Leppard emphasized the need for transparency, stating that the public deserves to know the truth about Gaetz, who has been nominated by President-elect Donald Trump to become the next attorney general.
The allegations are part of a broader investigation into Gaetz’s alleged involvement in sex trafficking. ABC News reported that another key witness, now in her 20s, also testified before the ethics panel, claiming that Gaetz had sexual relations with her when she was 17 and still in high school. Gaetz has vehemently denied the accusations, calling them a “false smear.”
Although the Justice Department decided not to pursue charges following a lengthy investigation into the sex trafficking claims, the House Ethics Committee has continued its separate inquiry into Gaetz’s conduct. The Florida Republican resigned from Congress on Wednesday, just after Trump nominated him to lead the Department of Justice.
In response to the testimony, Gaetz issued a statement dismissing the claims, labeling them as fabricated and part of a broader plot to discredit him. Gaetz pointed to a piece of “dispositive evidence” he provided to the committee in July, which he claimed proved his innocence. He alleged that the evidence documented a conspiracy by his former associate Joel Greenberg and his victim to frame him, which was backed by testimony from former federal agents. Gaetz described the allegations as “invented” and urged skepticism about the accusations.
