- Rep. Matt Gaetz is being investigated over whether he had a sexual relationship with a 17-year-old girl and paid her to travel with him.
- Eight sources familiar with the probe told The Daily Beast the investigation is still unfolding.
The Justice Department's probe into whether Rep. Matt Gaetz had a sexual relationship with a 17-year-old girl and paid her to travel with him has not made much noise recently since it was first reported in 2021, but the investigation appears to be ongoing, according to a new report.
Eight people familiar with the inquiry told The Daily Beast that the case continues to be investigated, while no formal charges have yet been brought against the Florida congressman.
If there are any updates on the case, however, the announcement would likely come after the midterms in November to avoid the appearance of meddling with the elections, two attorneys told the publication.
Gaetz has repeatedly and denied the allegations. On Twitter in March 2021, he claimed that the accusations were part of an "organized criminal extortion" scheme involving a former DOJ official seeking $25 million from Gaetz and his family.
A spokesman for Gaetz told Insider they would not be "providing comment to Insider on matters where he is considering litigation against Insider."
—Matt Gaetz (@mattgaetz) March 30, 2021
A Florida businessman named Stephen M. Alford was sentenced to more than five years in prison on Tuesday for his attempt to defraud the congressman's father, Don Gaetz, out of $25 million.
Alford claimed he could make investigations into Gaetz go away or secure a presidential pardon in exchange for the money, according to the Justice Department.
The DOJ's probe into Gaetz stemmed from another investigation into one of the congressman's associates, Joel Greenberg.
Greenberg, who was also a former tax collector in Seminole, Florida, pled guilty in May 2021 to several federal crimes, including trafficking a minor who was under 18 at the time.
"Greenberg also introduced the minor to other adult men, who engaged in commercial sex acts with the minor in the Middle District of Florida," the Justice Department said.
In a letter obtained by The Daily Beast in the spring of 2021, that The Daily Beast said was written by Greenberg, he reportedly claimed that he and Gaetz paid for sex with multiple women, including a 17-year-old girl.
"From time to time, gas money or gifts, rent or partial tuition payments were made to several of these girls, including the individual who was not yet 18. I did see the acts occur firsthand and Venmo transactions, Cash App, or other payments were made to these girls on behalf of the Congressman," The Daily Beast said Greenberg wrote, referencing Gaetz.
In response to The Daily Beast's report on the alleged letter, a PR firm representing Gaetz told the outlet the following:
"Congressman Gaetz has never paid for sex nor has he had sex with a 17-year-old as an adult. We are now one month after your outlet and others first reported such lies, and no one has gone on record to directly accuse him of either. Politico, however, has reported Mr. Greenberg threatening to make false accusations against others, which seems noteworthy for your story and in fact sounds like the entirety of your story. Congressman Gaetz has had no role in advocating for or against a pardon for Greenberg and doubts such a pardon was ever even considered."
In January, Gaetz's ex-girlfriend testified before a federal grand jury investigating possible sex crimes by the congressman, NBC News reported.
Gaetz won the primary for Florida's 1st congressional district on Tuesday. He'll face Rebekah Jones, a former data scientist, in the midterms in November.