Matt Gaetz text messages, photos handed to House by woman in sex traffic investigation

Members of the House Ethics Committee investigating Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) over accusations of having sex with underage women, drug parties, and public corruption are in possession of Gaetz texts and photos from a woman who was part of a sex trafficking investigation.

According to a report from the Daily Beast's Roger Sollenberger, the unidentified woman affirmed that she was over 21 at the time and that the sex was consensual at the drug and alcohol-fueled party.

The report adds that the woman told Department of Justice investigators she "received payments in connection with multiple sex parties with people in Gaetz’s circle."

According to the report, "the House Ethics Committee is now reviewing this evidence as part of its inquiry into whether Gaetz paid for sex with women and with an underage teen. In fact, the Ethics Committee met Thursday afternoon behind closed doors to discuss the Gaetz case, which also involves allegations of public corruption, solicitation of prostitution, habitual use of hard drugs, bribes or impermissible gifts, campaign finance violations, and exhibiting nude photos of sexual partners on the House floor."

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In an interview with the Beast, the woman claimed an associate of the embattled Florida Republican reached out to her in 2021 when he was initially being investigated and asked if she had been speaking with anyone.

The report adds that investigators have a text from Gaetz from 2017 where he wrote to her, "Hey—any interest in flying on a private plane to the keys May 19-21?” adding she would be traveling with “2 guys, 4 girls. A very high-quality adventurous group.”

After she replied, “Fantastic,” he replied, "As is true with all time you spend w me, it’ll be fun and chill,” before asking if she had a passport.

You can read more here.