Congressman Matt Gaetz: Human Trafficker or a John? More than likely, he’s both. Here’s why.
By: Carrie Archey
Representative Matt Gaetz (R, FL) is under investigation by the FBI and Department of Justice as part of a human trafficking probe with his associate Joel Greenberg, a tax collector in Seminole County, Florida. According to reports, Gaetz paid for sex and travel outside of the country for a 17-year-old girl in 2018. Gaetz maintains his innocence and actually has painted himself as a victim of extortion by a former member of the DOJ. Coincidentally, Rep. Gaetz was the only member of Congress to vote against The Combatting Human Trafficking in Commercial Vehicles Act, a law that gave the federal government more power and money to fight human trafficking. He also was one of only a few members of Congress to vote “No” on the “Allow States and Victims to Fight Online Sex Trafficking Act” (FOSTA) combined with “Stop Enabling Sex Traffickers Act”. Considering the Congressman is from a state with one of the highest incidences of human trafficking, one would think Rep. Gaetz would be keener on voting in support for bills that aim to combat it.
Many conservative pundits are quick to make the distinction between a sex worker (prostitute) and a trafficking victim, stating that even if Gaetz paid for sex, it was between two consenting adults. However, there is no such thing as consent for a minor to engage in sex for money with someone in a position of power. One of the biggest misconceptions about sex work (prostitution) is that sex workers are on this career path willingly. Human trafficking’s insidious nature can go undetected and, more often than not, victims are prosecuted as criminals rather than victims. Traffickers use force, fraud, and coercion as a means of recruiting vulnerable people into their operation. They make fraudulent employment offers, withhold wages or legal documents, threaten their life and family, and use physical abuse and isolation strategies to enforce compliance. The traffickers are usually people in positions of power or wealth, and they target people from the most vulnerable populations with false promises of a better life.
The key to combating this multi-billion dollar a year industry is not to sweep unsightly news of it under the rug. Accusers must be held accountable. Human trafficking must be viewed through a lens of human rights, not criminality. Discrediting the victims of these heinous crimes by labeling them as prostitutes, sends a message that their experience is criminal, rather than an unspeakable trauma they were driven into as a result of livelong scarcity. Survivors need support, compassion, and empathy; not shame and blame.