Two women accuse former congressman Matt Gaetz of sex trafficking in a new lawsuit

Former Florida congressman Matt Gaetz is the target of a civil lawsuit from two women who allege he took part in trafficking them for sex.

How they say it started

Neither plaintiff is named. One is called Jane Doe 1 in the filing and the other Jane Doe 2. Each says she first connected with a man named Micah Greenberg through Seeking Arrangement, a dating site known for pairing older wealthy people with younger people looking for financial help.

The first woman says her contact with Greenberg began in 2017. She alleges that at first she had sexual contact only with him and was paid for it.

The claims against Gaetz

She says Greenberg introduced her to Gaetz at a party on July 15, 2017. According to her, Gaetz slept with a 17-year-old during that evening. Afterward, she says, he paid the teen $400 in cash.

Jane Doe 1 alleges Gaetz also sent her money over Venmo in amounts from $150 to $1,000. She says the payment notes included phrases such as "Being my friend" and "Just because."

The second woman says she was introduced to Gaetz in December 2017. She alleges that after she took ecstasy both Greenberg and Gaetz had sex with her.

Both women say they traveled with Gaetz more than once. Their destinations included New York City, Las Vegas and the Florida Keys.

The suit names Gaetz, Greenberg and several other defendants and accuses them of sex trafficking. The women's accounts are allegations that have not been tested in court.

Gaetz pushes back

Gaetz responded through the Miami Herald, the paper that first reported the suit. He said a lot of the conduct described is untrue and that the case leans almost entirely on a congressional committee report that never let him face his accusers.

He added that he is eager to question both women under oath in depositions.