Matt Gaetz, the former Florida Republican congressman, denied allegations in a federal civil lawsuit accusing him of sex trafficking on Tuesday, with his legal team announcing plans to seek dismissal of the complaint.

Two women filed the complaint this week in federal court, naming Gaetz and two other defendants and alleging they were trafficked for sex while young. The filing revives claims that dogged Gaetz during a Justice Department investigation that closed in 2023 without federal charges being brought against him.

Gaetz dismissed the lawsuit as a politically motivated effort tied to his public profile. His attorneys said they would pursue counterclaims and argue the complaint fails to state a legally sufficient basis for trafficking liability.

Lawyers for the two plaintiffs rejected Gaetz's characterization, noting that civil suits operate under a lower standard of proof than criminal cases. They said additional evidence, including financial records, would be presented as the case proceeds through discovery.

Gaetz resigned from Congress in late 2024 after being nominated and then withdrawing as President Donald Trump's pick for attorney general. Legal analysts noted that civil suits allow plaintiffs to compel testimony and documents that criminal investigators either never obtained or declined to charge upon.