There’s been so much going on lately that the scandals surrounding Florida Republican House Representative Matt Gaetz have kind of taken a back burner. However, don’t think for a second that things are actually over for the Trump-loving GOP Congressman — far from it, in fact.
As I’m sure you’ll recall, earlier this year, Gaetz found himself at the center of quite a lot of controversy when it was alleged that he was sexually involved with a minor girl and may have even broken sex trafficking laws by paying her to cross state lines with him. While stories were certainly lining up at the time, it didn’t appear as though there was much physical evidence at that point in the investigation — leading Gaetz to behave as though he was an innocent man that was merely victimized by the radical Left.
But it seems as though Matt might have forgotten that he used to have a “wingman,” Joel Greenberg, who is now currently sitting in jail and is looking to do whatever he can to lighten his own sex crimes sentence — even if that means throwing his old congressional buddy under the bus.
Now, not only has Greenberg been more than willing to talk, it seems he kept the receipts too.
ABC News recently obtained and released text and Facebook messages between himself and the controversial Florida congressman that appear to show the two arranging meetings for both Joel and Matt Gaetz through “sugar daddy” websites.
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Greenberg himself pleaded guilty to sex-trafficking of a minor as well as various other federal charges back in May of this year and has since been willingly cooperating with investigators, according to multiple reports. Investigators now reportedly believe that Greenberg was the one to meet up with the women through the “sugar daddy” websites and would then introduce them to Gaetz, both of which would allegedly have sex with the women.
ABC News reports that Greenberg “has provided investigators with years of Venmo and Cash App transactions and thousands of photos and videos, as well as access to personal social media accounts.”
One of the text messages obtained by ABC, hailing from 2018, appears to show Greenberg arranging payment for a woman and asking her if she takes drugs.
“I have a friend flying in and we are trying to make plans for tonight. What are your plans for later.” one of the text messages from Joel read, reportedly referencing Matt Gaetz as the “friend” in question. “And how much of an allowance will you be requiring :)”
The woman reportedly responded that she had “a friend who introduced (her) to the website that (she) could bring,” and told Joel that she typically charges “$400 per meet.”
Greenberg responded to the woman in the text messages with a photo of Matt Gaetz taking a selfie with students at Pea Ridge Elementary, explaining to the girl, “My friend,” per the ABC News report.
The woman responded, “Oooh my friend thinks he’s really cute!”
Greenberg told her that Gaetz was “down here only for the day,” and added, “we work and play hard.”
He went on to ask, “Have you ever tried molly,” using the street name for the drug MDMA.
The woman questioned whether Gaetz used the same website that Joel had used to meet her.
“He knows the deal :),” Joel answered before saying he would book a “suite Downtown.”
But that wasn’t all that was exposed in Greenberg’s messages.
A 2018 Facebook message exchange showed Matt’s old “wingman” organizing a gathering with Gaetz and a woman he’d been sleeping with at the home of Florida hand doctor Jason Pirozzolo, who is also under FBI investigation in connection to the deep-reaching sex crimes probe. Greenberg referred to Pirozzolo’s house as “our safe place.”
“You should come meet the group,” Joel’s message to an unidentified Florida media entrepreneur read. “I think it would be a wise investment of time. You might already know Jason Pirrazolo… but I’d like for you to meet Congressman Matt Gaetz. Gaetz is a wild man, but great dude.”
He noted that the gathering would have “6-7 chicks” and “just 3-4 guys.”
Thus far, Matt Gaetz has not been charged with any crimes and has continually asserted his innocence in the media.
Gaetz spokesman Harlan Hill told ABC News, “After months of media coverage, not one woman has come forward to accuse Rep. Gaetz of wrongdoing. Not even President Biden can say that. That others might invite people unbeknownst to a U.S. Congressman to functions he may or may not attend is the everyday life of a political figure. Your story references people the congressman doesn’t know, things he hasn’t done and messages he neither sent nor received. Rep. Gaetz addressed the debunked allegations against him — and their origin in an extortion plot — during his Firebrand podcast episode last week. People should download and watch.”
You can read the full report here.
Featured image via Flickr/Gage Skidmore, under Creative Commons license 2.0
