Matt Gaetz Denies Buying Sex with Underage Homeless Girl Who Was Saving Up for Braces

Newly unsealed court records reviewed by The New York Times reveal that the teenager at the center of prior statutory rape allegations involving Rep. Matt Gaetz was homeless and attempting to save money for braces at the time of her interactions with Gaetz and his associates.

The records come from a civil suit that was later dropped. Former Florida state lawmaker Chris Dorworth filed the complaint after the teenager’s lawyers contacted him in late 2022, according to reporting published Nov. 13.

In the documents, the unnamed girl is described as “a then-homeless 17-year-old high schooler.” She was a junior in Florida who sometimes lived with a parent in a homeless shelter and worked at McDonald’s. According to the report, she misrepresented herself as 18 to access a “sugar dating” website to help pay for dental care.

These disclosures align with a bipartisan House Ethics Committee report released in December 2024. That investigation stated there was “substantial evidence” suggesting that Gaetz — now 43 — engaged in sexual activity with a 17-year-old at a party on July 15, 2017. The committee referred to her as “Victim A,” noting her role in a previously closed Department of Justice inquiry.

Victim A’s attorney, Laura B. Wolf, confirmed some of the newly revealed background details to The New York Times. Citing the unsealed filings, the outlet reported that the teen met Gaetz after being paid by Joel Greenberg — a former Gaetz associate — for sex. The documents further allege that Greenberg gave her ecstasy and had sex with her multiple times.

According to the court records, Victim A and Greenberg attended a party hosted by Dorworth on the night in question. Gaetz and his then-girlfriend were also in attendance. The documents describe the gathering as involving “alcohol; cocaine; middle-aged men; and young attractive females.”

The filings indicate that Victim A testified before the House Ethics Committee, alleging she danced nude in front of Dorworth and had sex twice with Gaetz — one of those encounters allegedly occurring on a “pool table or… air hockey table.” She claimed Dorworth witnessed one encounter and later laughed about it with others. Dorworth has publicly stated he was not present.

Victim A told investigators she was paid $400 in total. According to The New York Times, she has since moved to Texas and continues to work in the food service industry.

Gaetz and Dorworth have both repeatedly denied the allegations. In a statement to the Times, Gaetz wrote: “I never had sex with this person,” and further claimed she threatened legal action to obtain millions of dollars from him.

In February 2023, the Department of Justice decided not to pursue criminal charges against Gaetz, who at the time was floated as a potential attorney general in a future Donald Trump administration. The DOJ also declined charges against Dorworth.

However, the House Ethics Committee later concluded there was credible evidence that Gaetz violated Florida’s statutory rape laws. The report stated that witnesses — including Victim A — gave sworn testimony supporting the allegation, and noted Gaetz refused to testify under oath.

Investigators wrote that Gaetz learned of the teen’s age more than a month after their first alleged encounter but continued communication with her. They also reported that he met her again for commercial sex shortly after she turned 18. Despite these findings, Gaetz has not been criminally charged with statutory rape in any jurisdiction.

The congressman resigned from office in November 2024 and soon after withdrew from consideration for an appointed role under Trump.