Matt Gaetz Confronted With Blow-Up Dolls, Schoolgirl Questions During Event

Rep. Matt Gaetz has been confronted by a heckler over an alleged past relationship with an underage girl while in New Hampshire campaigning for former President Donald Trump.

The Florida congressman visited Trump's campaign headquarters in Manchester on Sunday when he was caught off guard by a heckler making comments regarding the Department of Justice (DOJ) sex trafficking probe launched after he was accused of having sex with a 17-year-old girl and paying travel for her. The DOJ eventually decided not to charge him.

Gaetz has emphatically denied any wrongdoing. Newsweek has contacted Gaetz for comment via the form on his website.

Gaetz on Sunday opened the floor to questions, joking that if anyone wanted to "softly throw vegetables" he knew that is "part of the deal when you come to New Hampshire."

The heckler, who has identified himself on X, formerly Twitter, as Rod Webber, asked Gaetz: "What's the youngest schoolgirl you've ever been with and have you ridden on the Lolita Express?"

The "Lolita Express" refers to the infamous private jet belonging to the late financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, which was allegedly used to fly underage girls to some of the late financier's properties.

Webber wrote in an X post with the video: "Matt Gaetz asked for the audience to ask tough questions... he then proceeded to call on me. I said what I said... but not only could Gaetz not answer, he had me removed."

In another clip, posted on X, Gaetz can be seen responding to the question, but what he says is inaudible due to loud boos from other audience members.

In a separate clip, posted by Webber, which appears to be taken after the original question was asked, Webber brandishes a blow-up doll at Gaetz. He says to Gaetz: "For your birthday I bought you a bag full of underage girls." Webber can then be heard being asked to leave the venue by other attendees and appears to be shoved.

In a video recorded from another angle and also posted on X, Gaetz smiles and says "dude" in response to Webber's jibe.

The DOJ confirmed in February 2023 that Gaetz would not be charged in relation to the allegations. Prosecutors investigated Gaetz's personal conduct and allegations he had a sexual relationship with a girl who was 17 years old at the time, and whether he violated laws by paying for her to travel with him. The House Ethics Committee has also been investigating the allegations against Gaetz since 2021. The allegations are believed to overlap the Justice Department probe. The Republican-led committee reached out to at least one witness, CNN reported in December.

A one-time close associate of Gaetz's, Joel Greenberg, a former tax collector in Florida, agreed to cooperate with the investigation into Gaetz as part of a plea agreement.
He himself pleaded guilty to six charges, including sex trafficking of a minor, identity theft, stalking, wire fraud and conspiracy to bribe a public official. He was sentenced to 11 years in prison in December 2022.