Embattled Congressman Matt Gaetz paid a Las Vegas political consulting firm nearly $160,000 in the weeks before it became public he's the subject of a federal investigation into underage sex trafficking.
In a federal campaign finance filing, the Florida Republican reported making three payments totaling $159,265.98 to Red Rock Strategies for fundraising consulting.
Gaetz’s last payment to Red Rock Strategies was made in mid-March, two weeks before it was revealed he is facing a federal probe into sex trafficking allegations involving a 17-year-old girl. Gaetz denies wrongdoing in the far-flung investigation, which has already led to the indictment of a political ally.
Red Rock Strategies, which includes former Rep. Joe Heck among its top executives, tilts Republican in its clientele. The firm also worked for Gaetz in the 2020 campaign cycle, but his name does not appear among its list of congressional clients.