Prosecutors and a defense attorney told a judge in federal court in Orlando on Thursday they are working on a plea deal with Greenberg, the former Seminole County tax collector, multiple media outlets reported.
Greenberg resigned last June after being indicted on multiple charges. The indictment was expanded to 33 federal charges last week that include sex trafficking, bribery, fraud and using his position to create fake IDs.
According to multiple media reports, the investigation into Greenberg led investigators to open a separate investigation involving Gaetz and whether he had a sexual relationship with a 17-year-old girl and paid for her travel and if he paid for sex with other women. Gaetz has not been charged with a crime.
Joel Greenberg, an associate of embattled Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz, is negotiating a plea deal with prosecutors.
“I’m sure Matt Gaetz is not feeling very comfortable today,” Scheller said.
Gaetz has vehemently denied all accusations that he did anything illegal. Gaetz’s office did not respond to a request for comment to the News Journal about the hearing Thursday.
“After the shocking allegations last week in the press, we, the women of Congressman Matt Gaetz’s office, feel morally obligated to speak out,” the statement said. “Congressman Gaetz has always been a principled and morally grounded leader. At no time has any one of us experienced or witnessed anything less than the utmost professionalism and respect. No hint of impropriety. No ounce of untruthfulness.”
Gaetz has long been a supporter of ending federal restrictions on medical marijuana.
Gaetz’s office responded to the CBS story again denying any allegations that he paid for sex or had sex with a minor.
“What began with blaring headlines about ‘sex trafficking’ has now turned into a general fishing exercise about vacations and consensual relationships with adults,” the statement said.
