- Rep. Matt Gaetz sends $ 900 over Venmo to Joel Greenberg, a political ally and accused of sex trafficking.
- The Daily Beast reported that the money was sent in 2018.
- Greenberg then sent $ 900 in various amounts to three young women, including an 18-year-old.
- See more stories on Insider’s business page.
Matt Gaetz claims he is the victim of a smear campaign, and the Florida Republican Office has issued a statement saying he “has never paid for sex.” But the legislature, which is now under federal investigation, had earlier sent $ 900 to a political ally accused of sex trafficking – and who turned around and sent the money, in various amounts, to three young women, The Daily Beast reported on Thursday .
According to The Daily Beast, all the women were over 18, who said they checked the Venmo deals following a tip from a source. According to the report, Joel Greenberg, who received the money from Gaetz, described his subsequent Venmo payments as ‘Teaching’, ‘School’ and ‘School’.
A Gaetz spokesman did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The revelation comes after a lawyer from Greenberg, the former tax collector for Seminole County, said his client was close to a plea deal with the U.S. Department of Justice.
Greenberg is accused, among other things, of using his role to obtain personal records of young women with whom he had relationships, including one described by prosecutors as between the ages of 14 and 18.
“I’m sure Matt Gaetz doesn’t feel very comfortable today,” attorney Fritz Scheller told reporters.
The Justice Department is investigating whether Gaetz himself had a sexual relationship with a 17-year-old girl. The congressman denied the allegation.