Tallahassee, Florida: Republican Congressman Matt Gaetz has been served a subpoena to testify under oath in a civil lawsuit connected to his friendship with former Seminole County Tax Collector Joel Greenberg and allegations of sexual relations with a teenage girl. The woman, referred to as A.B., filed the lawsuit and her attorneys from Spark Justice Law issued the subpoena on Thursday, requiring Gaetz to provide his testimony on April 5. The list of topics for questioning has not been disclosed.
The U.S. Department of Justice made the decision in February 2023 not to prosecute Gaetz on sex trafficking charges. The investigation, which began after Greenberg’s arrest in June 2020, raised concerns about witness credibility, including that of Greenberg. Greenberg’s attorney, Fritz Scheller, shared with the media that he had provided documents to the U.S. House Ethics Committee in their investigation into Gaetz’s alleged relations with an underage girl.
The current subpoena is part of a lawsuit filed by lobbyist and former state legislator Chris Dorworth in April 2023. He claims that Greenberg, along with his parents, ex-wife, family businesses, and A.B., carried out a coordinated effort to ruin his reputation after he refused to help Gaetz secure a pardon from former President Donald Trump. Dorworth’s suit alleges involvement in schemes such as falsely accusing him of child sex trafficking and orchestrating a scandal to aid a friend’s election campaign.
Gaetz, a staunch ally of Trump, has been described as Greenberg’s “wingman” during their friendship. The lawsuit filed by Dorworth refers to the defendants as the “Greenberg Racketeering Enterprise.” Dorworth asserts that their actions have caused him to suffer job loss and damage to his reputation. The suit also details a confrontation between Greenberg and Dorworth, where Greenberg demanded assistance in obtaining a pardon from Trump.
Having previously worked for the Seminole County Tax Collector’s Office during Greenberg’s tenure, Dorworth ended his association with Greenberg in 2020 when federal authorities launched an investigation. Gaetz’s office has not responded to requests for comment regarding the recent subpoena.
Since he was elected to Congress in 2017, Gaetz has become a polarizing figure, representing a solidly Republican district in the Florida Panhandle. He played a role in the removal of fellow Republican and Speaker Kevin McCarthy. Gaetz has denied any knowledge of the minor girl involved in the scandal and has claimed that the investigation is retaliation for his involvement in McCarthy’s ousting.
Gaetz has also alleged that the investigation is part of an elaborate extortion scheme targeting him and his father, with a former Justice Department official seeking financial gain in exchange for silence. Dorworth, who considers Gaetz a close friend and mentor, has taken polygraph tests to refute Greenberg’s allegations, and the results indicate no deception on Dorworth’s part.
Greenberg, who served as the tax collector from 2017 until his resignation in 2020, pleaded guilty in May 2021 to multiple felonies, including sex trafficking. He is currently serving an 11-year sentence.
In conclusion, Gaetz is facing the prospect of testifying under oath in a civil lawsuit surrounding his past friendship with Greenberg and the allegations made against him. The outcome of this case will have significant implications for Gaetz and his political career.