Prosecutors Closing In on Gaetz After Greenberg’s Guilty Plea Agreement

Photo Source: Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) meets with fans during the Conservative Political Action Conference in Orlando in February 2021. (Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post)

Former Florida Tax Collector Joel Greenberg pled guilty to six of the 33 federal charges prosecutors brought against him. While a majority of the charges stem from Greenberg's harassing behavior towards a school employee who was also a political opponent, one of the charges at the center of the controversy is his guilty plea to one count of sex trafficking of a child.

This guilty plea pulls prosecutors one step closer toward uncovering the details of a sprawling sex trafficking investigation that has been going on for roughly a year. After speculations that the former tax commissioner would agree to a plea deal had many wondering about the depth of the allegations, this latest development confirms what many suspected. More so, Greenberg's admission of guilt has many wondering what this means for U.S. Representative Matt Gaetz. Gaetz, who has described Greenberg as his “wingman,” quickly became the center of the investigation as reports leaked earlier this year that Gaetz may have been involved in sex trafficking a minor after his interactions with a 17-year-old girl were called into question. According to the plea agreement, this same 17-year-old girl was trafficked by Greenberg as Greenberg introduced her to other men, along with having had sex with her on at least seven occasions.

The details of Greenberg's transgressions include everything from drug-laced parties to paying for commercial sex using popular cash exchange apps like Venmo to using his political office as a means to financially support his sexual relationships with women. Gaetz, a prominent republican figure and outspoken Trumpster became entangled in Greenberg's misdeeds and is now the focus of the DOJ’s investigation as the department looks into whether or not Gaetz also participated in the sex trafficking of a minor.

In Greenberg’s 86-page plea agreement, Gaetz is not mentioned anywhere as an accomplice to any of the charges, including the sex trafficking charge, and Gaetz has continuously denied that he had any involvement in the allegations to begin with. Prosecutors hope that this plea agreement will shed light on Gaetz's involvement in the case as Greenberg has agreed to cooperate completely, giving prosecutors anything they need to uncover information regarding Gaetz’s involvement. In return, prosecutors agreed to dismiss the other 27 counts against him.

Photo Source: Joel Greenberg, a former tax collector in Seminole County, Fla., (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel/Associated Press via The New York Times) Greenberg details his illegal behavior in the plea agreement documents and explains how he came into contact with the 17-year-old girl. Greenberg describes popular sites that link “sugar babies” with “sugar daddies” and explains how he would meet up with these women, including the minor, to exchange sex for money. Greenberg also detailed his account of how he would go about engaging in these paid sexual acts and how his operations were “often with others.” While Gaetz is not formally mentioned, the Washington Post reports that according to a Florida politician, Gaetz had boasted about having "access to women that Joel provided." In the agreement, Greenberg is said to have “introduced the minor to other adult men, who engaged in commercial sex acts with the minor,” though the men are not identified by name.

Section 11 of the plea agreement details that Greenberg will "cooperate fully with the United States in the investigation and prosecution of other persons" and that he will testify "fully and truthfully before any federal court proceeding or federal grand jury in connection with the charges in this case and other matters." It adds that Greenberg's full cooperation consists of a "full and complete disclosure of all relevant information, including production of any and all books, papers, documents, and other objects in [his] possession or control, and to be reasonably available for interviews which the United States may require."

This immense access to what Greenberg knows is what many are calling the key to dispelling or confirming any illegal activity that Gaetz may have participated in, the most pressing of which is his interaction with the 17-year-old minor. While the investigation seems to be closing in on the republican figure, he does not appear to be worried by the ongoing investigation. Earlier this month, Gaetz and Freshman congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene kicked off their America First Rally at The Villages in Florida where the pair touted their Trump-inspired political vision. Gaetz made light of the ongoing investigation with the following reference at the rally, "I already know how CNN is going to report it: 'Matt Gaetz has wild party surrounded by beautiful women in The Villages,' so just get ready for it."

The plea deal is one step closer for prosecutors to sort out the details of Gaetz's involvement, and Greenberg has a lot riding on the line as far as his cooperation goes. If Greenberg does not adhere to the conditions of the agreement and falls short in giving up all relevant information, Greenberg could face reinstatement of the dismissed counts as well as new charges of perjury.