‘We, the women’: Matt Gaetz releases curious statement from unidentified female supporters

A cavalry of female office staffers charged to the defence of boss Matt Gaetz as the embattled Florida congressman faces an investigation on sex-trafficking allegations.

But while their full-throated support "uniformly" rejected the claims as false, the joint-statement remained anonymous beyond the collective signature of "we, the women of Congressman Matt Gaetz's office".

The statement was reportedly emailed to media from Mr Gaetz's chief of staff Jilian Lane Wyant, who would presumably make up at least one of the signatories. The office had at least eight female staff members, according to The Daily Caller.

Mr Gaetz tweet-stormed out a thread of the full statement, which said the women were morally obligated to speak out on the Congressman's time in office.

"We have staffed his meetings. We have planned his events. We have travelled with him. And we have tracked his schedule," the statement said.

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"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."

The Women of the Office of US Congressman Matt Gaetz wrote that many started in politics at entry-level positions and were promoted to positions of leadership as they were not only respected, but encouraged to grow, achieve and know their value.

They said working for the Office of US Congressman Gaetz gave women every opportunity to use their talents to serve their country.

"On every occasion, he has treated each and every one of us with respect. Thus, we uniformly reject these allegations as false," the statement said.

Mr Gaetz, who has not been charged with any crimes, has denied the allegations. He says that it is part of an extortion plot to defraud $25m from his family.

In a column published in The Washington Examiner on Monday, Mr Gaetz said the allegations were the DC swamp attempting to sensationalize and criminalize his prior sex life.

“First, I have never, ever paid for sex. And second, I, as an adult man, have not slept with a 17-year-old,” he said.

“My lifestyle of yesteryear may be different from how I live now, but it was not and is not illegal,” he added.