Florida Prosecutor Suggests Matt Gaetz Could Face Life in Prison for Sex Trafficking

A Florida prosecutor believes that the potential consequences facing Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) could extend far beyond expulsion from Congress.

Appearing on Morning Joe Monday, Dave Aronberg — State Attorney for Palm Beach County — said that the Department of Justice probe into whether Gaetz paid for sex with women in violation of federal sex-trafficking laws could carry with it a massive jail sentence.

“The most serious crime is child sex trafficking, punishable by up to life in prison,” Aronberg said. “There’s a ten-year mandatory minimum. The more information that comes out, the fewer defenses Matt seems to have left.”

Aronberg believes the biggest problem for Gaetz is that Joel Greenberg — the former tax collector for Seminole County who has been brought up on federal charges for sex trafficking of a minor — could turn on Gaetz and provide evidence incriminating the congressman. Such a move could blow up what Aronbrerg called Gaetz’s “last remaining defense” — claiming he either did not have sex with the 17-year old girl at the center of the investigation or claiming she turned 18 by the time he did.

“Those defenses can be overcome by the sworn testimony of the alleged victim, or the discovery of incriminating documents like text messages, emails amongst the parties, or if Joel Greenberg flips on the bigger fish — Matt Gaetz,” Aronberg said. “Which I think is almost certain at this point.”

Aronberg argued that even lesser charges in connection with this investigation have serious implications.

“For Gaetz, the problem is, it’s not just child sex trafficking,” Aronberg said. “If they can’t prove that and can only prove he had sex with an underage girl, well, that would be a violation of the state law against having sex with a minor. And that is a 15-year maximum sentence. And you have to register as a sex offender. Even if it’s solicitation of a sex act, that’s also a felony, plus registration as a sex offender. There are no good outcomes here, I think, for Matt Gaetz in the future.”

Watch above, via MSNBC.