By Steve Neavling
An attorney representing two women who testified before the House Ethics Committee has alleged that former Rep. Matt Gaetz paid both of his adult clients for sex and was seen engaging in sexual activity with a minor.
Florida attorney Joel Leppard told ABC News’ Juju Chang that one of his clients testified to witnessing Gaetz having sex with a 17-year-old girl at a house party in Florida in July 2017.
“She testified [that] in July of 2017, at this house party, she was walking out to the pool area, and she looked to her right, and she saw Rep. Gaetz having sex with her friend, who was 17,” Leppard said.
Leppard also stated that Gaetz paid both of his clients for sex using Venmo, a claim reportedly corroborated during the House Ethics Committee’s investigation.
“Just to be clear, both of your clients testified that they were paid by Rep. Gaetz to have sex?” Chang asked.
“That’s correct. The House was very clear about that and went through each. They essentially put the Venmo payments on the screen and asked about them. And my clients repeatedly testified, ‘What was this payment for?’ ‘That was for sex,’” Leppard said.
The Justice Department spent years investigating Gaetz for allegations of sex trafficking, obstruction of justice, and other claims before informing him last year that charges would not be filed. Gaetz has consistently denied wrongdoing.
Trump transition spokesperson Alex Pfeiffer defended Gaetz, who has been nominated to serve as President-elect Donald Trump’s attorney general.
“Matt Gaetz will be the next Attorney General. He’s the right man for the job and will end the weaponization of our justice system,” Pfeiffer said, adding that the allegations are “baseless” and were investigated thoroughly by the Biden Justice Department.
“These are baseless allegations intended to derail the second Trump administration. The Biden Justice Department investigated Gaetz for years and cleared him of wrongdoing,” Pfeiffer said. ‘
The investigation, however, was initiated during Trump’s first term.
Leppard, who has urged the House Ethics Committee to release its findings amid Gaetz’s nomination, said his client testified that Gaetz ended his sexual relationship with the minor upon learning her age.
“Her understanding was that Matt Gaetz did not know that she was a minor, and that when he learned that she was a minor, that he broke off things and did not continue a sexual relationship until she turned 18,” Leppard said.
The House Ethics Committee is expected to meet Wednesday to discuss its report on Gaetz and may vote on its release. Although its investigation ended when Gaetz resigned from Congress, pressure has mounted for transparency as the Senate considers his attorney general nomination.
