# Matt Gaetz being investigated for sex with 17 year old girl (DOJ declines to charge 2023-02-15) **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [March 30, 2021, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/matt-gaetz-being-investigated-for-sex-with-17-year-old-girl-doj-declines-to-charge-2023-02-15/939052 "2021-03-30T22:13:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 40
**Author:** ![DesertDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/desertdog/32/11503_2.png) [@DesertDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DesertDog)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2026, 2:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/matt-gaetz-being-investigated-for-sex-with-17-year-old-girl-doj-declines-to-charge-2023-02-15/939052/784 "2026-01-23T02:34:16Z")
> [@wguy123](#): > > Is everyone on the right a complete douche canoe? [![](https://miro.medium.com/v2/resize:fit:400/format:webp/0*SByY_E3vzQI7LKHD.jpg) ](https://miro.medium.com/v2/resize:fit:400/format:webp/0*SByY_E3vzQI7LKHD.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![scudsucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scudsucker/32/14101_2.png) [@scudsucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scudsucker)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2026, 12:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/matt-gaetz-being-investigated-for-sex-with-17-year-old-girl-doj-declines-to-charge-2023-02-15/939052/785 "2026-01-23T12:36:31Z")
Both cocaine and MDMA (ecstasy) in male subjects make getting, and sustaining an erection somewhat challenging (don’t ask me how I know) I’d instead wager Mr. Gaetz was drunk, which is also subject to “brewers droop”. But I have never met the man, so I am unaware of his… proclivities. ---
**Author:** ![Mollie\_Magill](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mollie_magill/32/20882_2.png) [@Mollie\_Magill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mollie_Magill)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2026, 2:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/matt-gaetz-being-investigated-for-sex-with-17-year-old-girl-doj-declines-to-charge-2023-02-15/939052/786 "2026-01-23T14:11:24Z")
I thought “brewer’s droop” was the tendency for heavy beer drinkers to grow breasts due to the high estrogen content of beer. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2026, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/matt-gaetz-being-investigated-for-sex-with-17-year-old-girl-doj-declines-to-charge-2023-02-15/939052/787 "2026-01-23T18:29:31Z")
> [@scudsucker](#): > > I’d instead wager Mr. Gaetz was drunk, which is also subject to “brewers droop”. The term we had for that, in high school and college, was “whiskey dick.” ---
**Author:** ![Andy\_L](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c67d28/32.png) [@Andy\_L](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Andy_L)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2026, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/matt-gaetz-being-investigated-for-sex-with-17-year-old-girl-doj-declines-to-charge-2023-02-15/939052/788 "2026-01-26T23:16:22Z")
> [@scudsucker](#): > > I’d instead wager Mr. Gaetz was drunk, which is also subject to “brewers droop”. “But worst of all, young man, you’ve got Industrial Disease” ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2026, 11:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/matt-gaetz-being-investigated-for-sex-with-17-year-old-girl-doj-declines-to-charge-2023-02-15/939052/789 "2026-01-26T23:43:24Z")
“Lechery, sir, it provokes, and unprovokes; it provokes the desire, but it takes away the performance; therefore, much drink may be said to be an equivocator with lechery” ---
**Author:** ![scudsucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scudsucker/32/14101_2.png) [@scudsucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scudsucker)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2026, 11:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/matt-gaetz-being-investigated-for-sex-with-17-year-old-girl-doj-declines-to-charge-2023-02-15/939052/790 "2026-01-27T11:38:51Z")
> [@Andy\_L](#): > > “But worst of all, young man, you’ve got Industrial Disease” I love that song, if you are into electronic music, here is a remix by the psy-trance act 1200 Micrograms [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/F3sxz1ge2Q8/maxresdefault.jpg "PSY-TRANCE ◍ Dire Straits - Money For Nothing (Beyond Senses Remix)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F3sxz1ge2Q8) It may not suit your taste, but I like the crossover between rock and electronic. ---
**Author:** ![scudsucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scudsucker/32/14101_2.png) [@scudsucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scudsucker)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2026, 11:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/matt-gaetz-being-investigated-for-sex-with-17-year-old-girl-doj-declines-to-charge-2023-02-15/939052/791 "2026-01-27T11:42:24Z")
> [@Andy\_L](#): > > “But worst of all, young man, you’ve got Industrial Disease” Off topic, dear Mods, I thought I was in a different forum. ---
**Author:** ![Euphonious\_Polemic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/euphonious_polemic/32/3002_2.png) [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2026, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/matt-gaetz-being-investigated-for-sex-with-17-year-old-girl-doj-declines-to-charge-2023-02-15/939052/792 "2026-01-27T18:31:45Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > The House doesnt get to decide if anyone is “guilty” of a crime like that. What they found was-_substantial evidence_. Maybe I’m just crazy, but hear me out… Should not this “substantial evidence” of crimes being committed be turned over to the appropriate law enforcement agencies? ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2026, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/matt-gaetz-being-investigated-for-sex-with-17-year-old-girl-doj-declines-to-charge-2023-02-15/939052/793 "2026-01-27T18:55:56Z")
> [@Euphonious\_Polemic](#): > > Should not this “substantial evidence” of crimes being committed be turned over to the appropriate law enforcement agencies? Such as the FBI, currently run by a Trump toady, who has terminated FBI employees who had been involved in investigating Trump in the past? ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2026, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/matt-gaetz-being-investigated-for-sex-with-17-year-old-girl-doj-declines-to-charge-2023-02-15/939052/794 "2026-01-27T19:51:30Z")
> [@Euphonious\_Polemic](#): > > Should not this “substantial evidence” of crimes being committed be turned over to the appropriate law enforcement agencies? It might depend on how old this evidence is. The statute of limitations might have run out. Wire trafficking is usually five years, for example, at least I think so. I’m not sure if the ages of the victims open Gaetz up to statutory rape charges; I guess it might depend on local laws. The age of consent is as low as 16 in some states. I really don’t know. I’m just throwing this out as a possibility. ---
**Author:** ![Great\_Antibob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47c2d/32.png) [@Great\_Antibob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Great_Antibob)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2026, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/matt-gaetz-being-investigated-for-sex-with-17-year-old-girl-doj-declines-to-charge-2023-02-15/939052/795 "2026-01-27T19:55:26Z")
There’s also the possibility the evidence was sent to local authorities but that evidence would go straight to Florida. And, at the moment, the governor and attorney general of Florida aren’t even trying to hide their partisan behavior ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2026, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/matt-gaetz-being-investigated-for-sex-with-17-year-old-girl-doj-declines-to-charge-2023-02-15/939052/796 "2026-01-27T20:05:50Z")
Age of consent in Florida is 18, so if Florida is the jurisdiction, then this was a crime. (They give some leeway if there isn’t much of an age gap, but Gaetz is now 43 so he would have been way too old for that exception.) And I _think_ (IANAL) that for sex crimes against minors (which I believe this could be classified as), there is no statute of limitations, but _only_ if that crime was committed after July 1, 2020, which is when “Donna’s Law” went into effect. I believe his crimes occurred before then, I see that allegations fall between the years of 2017-2019 for his various crimes, which means this offense would be subject to the previous statute of limitations (which was 3 years, and we would be very much past that at this point). But I don’t know if these offenses happened in the state of Florida, and if not then they might be subject to whatever laws are applicable in the other jurisdiction(s). ---
**Author:** ![wguy123](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wguy123/32/3161_2.png) [@wguy123](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wguy123)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2026, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/matt-gaetz-being-investigated-for-sex-with-17-year-old-girl-doj-declines-to-charge-2023-02-15/939052/797 "2026-01-27T20:44:26Z")
> [@Atamasama](#): > > It might depend on how old this evidence is. I’ve heard it was all under 18 years old. ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2026, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/matt-gaetz-being-investigated-for-sex-with-17-year-old-girl-doj-declines-to-charge-2023-02-15/939052/798 "2026-01-27T20:48:19Z")
> [@wguy123](#): > > I’ve heard it was all under 18 years old. [![](https://meghanarcuri.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/rimshot.jpg) ](https://meghanarcuri.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/rimshot.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![TroutMan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troutman/32/6721_2.png) [@TroutMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TroutMan)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2026, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/matt-gaetz-being-investigated-for-sex-with-17-year-old-girl-doj-declines-to-charge-2023-02-15/939052/799 "2026-10-15T17:51:47Z")
UPDATE: a civil lawsuit was filed today by two Jane Does who accuse Gaetz of trafficking them. Joel Micah Greenberg is also named in the suit. In his response to The Guardian, Gaetz denied the accusation, and attached a photo of three young women on a beach in the Bahamas, commenting “I don’t know if this is Jane Doe 1 and Jane Doe 2 or not. But if it is they seemed to portray their Bahamian trip differently on social media than in their lawsuit seeking money.” So he’s not sure if it’s them, but just to be safe, he’ll dox them. Stay classy, Matt. > **[Matt Gaetz accused in suit of sex trafficking two women in Florida](https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/oct/15/matt-gaetz-florida-sex-traffing-lawsuit)** > > Jane Does allege ex-congressman and two others coordinated ‘payments, drugs and travel’ for sexual acts ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2026, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/matt-gaetz-being-investigated-for-sex-with-17-year-old-girl-doj-declines-to-charge-2023-02-15/939052/800 "2026-10-15T18:24:53Z")
> [@TroutMan](#): > > In his response to The Guardian, Gaetz denied the accusation, and attached a photo of three young women on a beach in the Bahamas, commenting “I don’t know if this is Jane Doe 1 and Jane Doe 2 or not. But if it is they seemed to portray their Bahamian trip differently on social media than in their lawsuit seeking money.” I can only imagine how happy his lawyers are with that comment. ---
**Author:** ![DavidNRockies](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidnrockies/32/6279_2.png) [@DavidNRockies](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DavidNRockies)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2026, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/matt-gaetz-being-investigated-for-sex-with-17-year-old-girl-doj-declines-to-charge-2023-02-15/939052/801 "2026-10-15T18:29:25Z")
Also … I often struggle to understand apparent POS men, generally, but … in what universe would a hypothetical photo of a white-linen, fine dining table set for two, replete with decadent looking entrees, an open bottle of wine, and two nearly empty wine glasses – flanked by a lovely, smiling couple gazing longingly into each other’s eyes – be proof positive that the guy _didn’t_ sexually assault her later. > [@](#): > > Education > Florida State University (BS) > College of William & Mary (JD) Evil, not stupid. ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2026, 10:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/matt-gaetz-being-investigated-for-sex-with-17-year-old-girl-doj-declines-to-charge-2023-02-15/939052/802 "2026-10-15T22:00:21Z")
> [@DavidNRockies](#): > > I often struggle to understand apparent POS men, generally, but … in what universe would a hypothetical photo of a white-linen, fine dining table set for two, replete with decadent looking entrees, an open bottle of wine, and two nearly empty wine glasses – flanked by a lovely, smiling couple gazing longingly into each other’s eyes – be proof positive that the guy _didn’t_ sexually assault her later. In the universe of privilege, where having money and “class” automatically justifies your every action. ---
**Author:** ![Sage\_Rat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sage_rat/32/399_2.png) [@Sage\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sage_Rat)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2026, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/matt-gaetz-being-investigated-for-sex-with-17-year-old-girl-doj-declines-to-charge-2023-02-15/939052/803 "2026-10-15T23:32:42Z")
> [@The Guardian](#): > > The lawsuit alleges that the “defendants arranged and funded travel for Plaintiffs, other victims, and other prominent political figures to Venice Beach, Miami, Las Vegas, the Florida Keys, the Bahamas, and New York City between December 2017 and January 2019. > > “These trips took Jane Doe 1 and Jane Doe 2 to places they had never been and into rooms with men they would never otherwise have met, and every part of that access, from the flights to the hotel rooms, was paid for by men, including the Defendants, who expected sex in return,” it reads. Crazy to think that Donald Trump would be connected with an underage sex offender in Florida! Or five! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/matt-gaetz-being-investigated-for-sex-with-17-year-old-girl-doj-declines-to-charge-2023-02-15/939052.md?page=39) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/matt-gaetz-being-investigated-for-sex-with-17-year-old-girl-doj-declines-to-charge-2023-02-15/939052.md?page=41)