Jacob Ogles
Lawyers for Joel Greenberg detailed allegations about a 2017 sex party in Florida with U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz in attendance.
Greenberg, a former Seminole County Tax Collector, pleaded guilty in 2022 to federal charges, including sex trafficking a minor. That case drew national attention after it prompted federal prosecutors to launch a sex trafficking investigation of Gaetz, a political ally and personal associate of Greenberg.
Prosecutors last year informed Gaetz he would face no criminal charges, but the House Ethics Committee announced in June it had expanded its own investigation of Gaetz into alleged sex and drug use allegations.
Filings by Greenberg’s attorney illustrate some of those accusations in greater detail. That latest information comes from a brief seeking legal fees for a defamation case brought against Greenberg and his family by a Lake Mary lobbyist. That case was dropped earlier this month. But testimony gathered in that case over more than a year included allegations by a woman, identified only as A.B., who claimed she attended a sex party at the lobbyist’s home and that Gaetz was in attendance.
Frederick Wermuth, Greenberg’s lead attorney, in a federal court filing said any testimony by A.B. and other witnesses should become a public record now that the defamation case has been voluntarily dropped. Moreover, the rebuttal includes key details from the testimony that has not been made public to date.
That includes assertions that A.B. attended a party on July 15, 2017, while she was still a minor. That invite came at a time that Greenberg was “regularly meeting teen girls and women in their early twenties through a website and recruiting them for sex with himself and others in exchange for compensation,” the filing states.
The July party was among several held with powerful political figures that involved “alcohol; cocaine; middle-aged men; and young attractive females,” according to the filing. It included Gaetz among dignitaries who were entertained at parties funded by Greenberg “featuring illicit drugs and young women.”
“Everything collapsed after Joel was indicted for stalking in June 2020,” the filing states.
Notably, U.S. District Judge Daniel Irick seemed to call the relevancy of the fresh accusations into question in a court order the day after the brief was filed. A Judge’s order states “it appears that much of the Defendants’ filings relate to their attempt to publicly utilize discovery documents to bolster their fee entitlement claims.” He ordered that parties must only consider the question or who should pay court fees, and that defendants needed to file any such briefs on Oct. 4 at the latest.
Regardless, including the accusations in the filing made public testimony from A.B. and other evidence surrounding Gaetz that had not publicly been available before. The filings were first reported by the Albritton Journalism Institute within hours of being filed.
Gaetz’s Office has not replied to a request for comment on the allegations. Plaintiffs who brought the defamation case called Greenberg’s credibility into question, noting the disgraced official has a history of lying. One of Greenberg’s first public scandals involved smearing Republican Primary opponent Brian Beute with such accusations.
“Joel Greenberg is in prison at this very moment for lying about his political opponents lying about sex with a minor,” said the lobbyist bringing the case forward. “He is known to have downloaded 60 photos of child pornography to frame his Tax Collector General Counsel, and that guy was a friend and former uncle by marriage of Joel.”
The lobbyist also said he doubted allegations about Gaetz that originated from Greenberg.
Alex Andrade, the attorney handling the case (and also a state lawmaker), filed opposition to Wermuth’s motion and said Greenbergs’ legal team wrongly was trying to force new accusations into the public purview even though the federal case had already been closed.
“The Family is, in effect, asking the Court to entertain a post-dismissal summary judgment motion or evidentiary hearing requiring determinations of credibility of factual allegations that are firmly contested by the parties,” Andrade wrote in his own brief.
In a separate case filed in circuit court, Andrade indicates A.B. had also been involved in the sex trafficking charge to which Greenberg pleaded guilty. In that case, he alleges Greenberg is continuing to fabricate accusations against former political associates.
Portions of the filing involving Gaetz are not redacted from the publicly available copy of Wermuth’s brief.
16 comments
The Cat In The MAGA Hat
September 20, 2024 at 6:22 pm
Do not let your **** run your life Matt
Vote democrat down ballot
September 20, 2024 at 11:09 pm
Too late. This schmuck is about to get what he deserves… prison time! Vote every Gaetz out and keep them out. Disgusting!!!
Groomer
September 20, 2024 at 11:21 pm
Talk about a groomer, this man boy is absolutely a predator just like Trump! Why do we keep electing these disgusting people. Just like the famous moms for liberty and their sex scandal the republicans are doing nothing but gaslighting all of America to cover for their own disgusting antics and perversions! Vote this pedo out of office please
Gaetz is a groomer
September 20, 2024 at 11:22 pm
Groomer
The Sage "E"
September 20, 2024 at 6:36 pm
Relax your Political Sphincters, Sage Patriots. This is 100% a fake “Dook 4 Brains Leftist October Suprise”.
We will 100% keep Rep. Gaetz seat filled by Rep. Gaetz.
Nothing to see here but just another Vast Left Wing Consperisey.
Move along now citizens,
“E”
ITS CALLED A FREAK OFF
September 20, 2024 at 11:07 pm
Another republican bites the dust and Elivra Shitts here is losing ground fast! Hope you enjoy a better economy and honest politics because that’s what you’re in for. If you don’t like you additional wages you can send them to me! Vote Blue
Protect our children - vote Gaetz out
September 20, 2024 at 11:11 pm
If that was your daughter you’d have a different opinion!
Michael K
September 20, 2024 at 6:40 pm
No wonder Matt begged for a preemptive pardon from Trump – they have so much in common!
Michael
September 20, 2024 at 6:57 pm
Obviously, not much of a ladies man if you have to drive 6 hours and pay to get laid.
The Sage "E"
September 20, 2024 at 7:52 pm
I, The Sage “E”, will testify in a court of law that neither Matt, nor myself, The Sage “E”, ever attended a “DOOK 4 BRAINS LEFTIST” DIDDY FREAK OUT PARTY”.
And as we all know theres nothing worse than a Diddy Freak Out Party full of “Deminuative (that means very small Dook 4 Brains Leftist Johnsons”.
Thank you America,
The Sage And Bull Of The Woods Patriot With A Ginormous Johnson & Low Hanging Balls,
“E” [FKA ELVIS – FKA EARL].
PEACE OUT, “E”
FREAK OFF FREAK YOU
September 20, 2024 at 11:05 pm
FREAK OFF you ignorant republican Elvira Shitts
The Sage "E"
September 20, 2024 at 8:13 pm
Good evening America,
Thru the Electronic Wizardery of our Allies in Isreal I, The Sage “E” have secured copies of all of “Diddie’s FREAK OUT Parties … yes All of Them. And so far our review indicates 100% attendance & particapation by “Dook 4 Brains Leftist BIG NAME Politicians and Zero% Sage Patriot Politicions.
Oh Yeah, America, the Good Guys (AKA SAGE PATRIOTS) got The Poop on you Dook 4 Brains Leftist Politicians … for our own “LITTLE SAGE OCTOBER SUPPRISE”,
Y’all should just quietly give up by Wednesday of this upcoming week …. or face your embarrasing “Fall Into The Lake of Political Fire & Brimstone,
“E”
Freak off
September 20, 2024 at 11:04 pm
It’s called a FREAK OFF you dumb shit
A Day without MAGA
September 21, 2024 at 5:46 am
Trump non existent relationship with his god,he goes far to lie about going to church Google Trump Marble Collegiate Church
Jojo
September 21, 2024 at 8:27 am
Gaetz was among other “ dignitaries” who attended these parties? That’s the last word I would use to describes them. Pervert comes to mind though
Old news
September 22, 2024 at 9:56 am
Was it before or after you can marry at 12 years old laws. And 12 year old get a trail like adults too.
This place is staying neutral
Comments are closed.