DOJ Document Shows Matt Gaetz Paid Thousands of Dollars to Women: Report

A Justice Department document obtained by The New York Times appears to show that former Republican U.S. Representative Matt Gaetz paid thousands of dollars via Venmo to women, friends and associates.

Federal investigators created the document while investigating whether Gaetz—recently nominated for attorney general by President-elect Donald Trump—sex-trafficked a minor, violated the Mann Act, which bars transporting "any woman or girl for the purpose of prostitution or debauchery, or for any other immoral purpose" across state lines, and obstructed justice.

The department investigated Gaetz for three years before ultimately closing the inquiry last year after prosecutors recommended not charging the former congressman from Florida.

Former U.S. Representative Matt Gaetz speaks with reporters in Washington, D.C., on January 10. "The New York Times" recently obtained a Department of Justice document reportedly showing Gaetz made thousands of dollars in payments to... Kent Nishimura/Getty Images

Newsweek reached out to Gaetz for comment on Wednesday.

According to the Times, the Justice Department document appears to show that Gaetz made thousands of dollars in payments to two women whose lawyer recently revealed they testified to the House Ethics Committee, telling the panel they had sex with Gaetz in exchange for money.

Gaetz has strongly denied the allegations, and Steven Cheung, spokesperson for Trump's 2024 campaign, told the Times that "this purposeful leaking of classified investigative materials is the sort of politicized D.O.J. weaponization that Matt Gaetz will end."

"The Justice Department investigated Gaetz for years, failed to find a crime and are now leaking material with false information to smear the next attorney general," Cheung added in his statement.

The Times noted, however, that there are no classified markings on the document.

This is a developing story and will be updated with further information.