KEY POINTS

  • Gaetz allegedly showed nude photos and videos of women he slept with to lawmakers
  • The Florida Republican bragged about his sexual exploits
  • Gaetz is being investigated for sex trafficking

Republican Rep. Matt Gaetz of Florida and a close ally of former President Donald Trump allegedly showed nude photos and videos of women he slept with to lawmakers, according to multiple sources.

The Florida Republican allegedly gained a reputation in Congress for bragging about his sexual exploits with women to his colleagues. Gaetz allegedly showed off the photos and videos both in private and on the House floor, multiple sources told CNN.

Two people who were shown the materials said Gaetz talked about having sex with the women in the photos. They also detailed one of the videos that showed a naked woman with a hula hoop.

"It was a point of pride," one of the sources said.

Gaetz, 38, who was elected to Congress in 2016, is being investigated by the U.S. Justice Department over whether he had a sexual relationship with a 17-year-old. Authorities also are determining whether he misused campaign funds to pay for her to travel with him, which would have violated federal sex-traffic laws.

Several federal statutes say it is illegal to induce someone under 18 to travel over state lines for sex in exchange for money.

There is no evidence that the pictures Gaetz showed to fellow lawmakers were connected to the DOJ investigation.

Gaetz has previously denied the allegations of sex trafficking. On Tuesday, he claimed he was the victim of an extortion plot that the FBI is currently investigating.

“Over the past several weeks my family and I have been victims of an organized criminal extortion involving a former DOJ official seeking $25 million while threatening to smear my name,” Gaetz wrote in a statement.

“No part of the allegations against me are true, and the people pushing these lies are targets of the ongoing extortion investigation,” he added.

Gaetz also revealed that he and his lawyers have been in touch with the U.S. Justice Department. The department told him he was the subject of the investigation, not the target.

“I only know that it has to do with women,” Gaetz said. “I have a suspicion that someone is trying to recategorize my generosity to ex-girlfriends as something more untoward.”

Matt Gaetz, a US congressman from Florida, addressed the first night of the Republican National Convention which was largely being held virtually amid the coronavirus pandemic
Matt Gaetz, a US congressman from Florida, addressed the first night of the Republican National Convention which was largely being held virtually amid the coronavirus pandemic Republican National Convention / -
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