Former Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz allegedly paid to have intercourse with ladies utilizing his “son” Nestor Galban’s PayPal account — the newest element to emerge amid sexual misconduct allegations that Gaetz has vehemently denied.
Legal professional Joel Leppard advised The Washington Post on Monday that two of his feminine purchasers beforehand testified to the Home Ethics Committee about Gaetz, 42, allegedly shopping for “sexual favors” and having intercourse with a minor. In line with Leppard, Galban’s PayPal was one of many sources of cost that they acquired from Gaetz.
Galban, who’s in his 20s, has been described by Gaetz as an “adopted son,” although they aren’t formally linked. The previous congressman advised PEOPLE in 2020 that he and Galban are “a contemporary household” that’s “outlined by our love for one another, not by any paperwork.”
PEOPLE reached out to Galban for remark after Leppard talked about his PayPal account.
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In separate conversations with CNN, Leppard claimed that one of many ladies he represents was at a celebration with Gaetz in July 2017. He mentioned his consumer testified to Home Ethics investigators that she witnessed “her buddy having intercourse with Consultant Gaetz. And her buddy at the moment was 17,” he mentioned.
In line with Leppard, the ladies additionally testified that funds for intercourse continued by means of early 2019. He advised CNN that meetups at occasions and journeys occurred “maybe over 10 occasions over the course of July 2017 to early January 2019.”
Gaetz has rejected all earlier allegations that he had intercourse with minors or paid for intercourse.
Gaetz resigned from Congress on Wednesday, Nov. 13, shortly after President-elect Donald Trump nominated him for legal professional basic. He vacated his seat simply days earlier than the Home Ethics Committee was set to launch a report about their investigation into Gaetz over intercourse trafficking and illicit drug use claims.
Regardless of his resignation, members of each main political events have known as for the report back to be made public earlier than the Senate is requested to vote on Gaetz’s legal professional basic nomination.
The Division of Justice beforehand declined to carry expenses towards Gaetz after investigating him as a part of a intercourse trafficking probe.
In case you or somebody you realize has been a sufferer of sexual abuse, textual content “STRENGTH” to the Disaster Textual content Line at 741-741 to be related to an authorized disaster counselor.
