Jump directly to the content

REPUBLICAN politician Matt Gaetz has gone viral on social media over his apparently adopted son named Nestor.

Gaetz is currently being investigated by the Department of Justice over "child sex trafficking" allegations.

Matt Gaetz has an adopted son named Nestor Galban
2
Matt Gaetz has an adopted son named Nestor Galban

Who is Matt Gaetz' son Nestor?

Matt Gaetz, 38, is reportedly a father to an adopted young adult named Nestor Galban.

Gaetz claims that Nestor lost his mother to breast cancer at just 12 years old after which he arrived in the US to live with his older sister who Gaetz was dating.

During the politician's Hot Take podcast, he described how Nestor is the brother of an ex-girlfriend and that "I sort of feel like a single step-parent at times,” though it is unclear what ex he is referring to.

According to Gaetz, Nestor lived with him for four years after coming from Cuba and then moved to Miami for his junior year and lived with his biological father.

Gaetz says that he adopted Nestor after he lost his mother to cancer when he was 12-years-old
2
Gaetz says that he adopted Nestor after he lost his mother to cancer when he was 12-years-oldCredit: Instagram

Gaetz told People magazine about keeping Nestor under wraps, saying: “Just imagine: You’re 12 years old, your mom has just died, you’re learning English as you’re trying to get your footing in school. 

“It just wasn’t the right time in middle school and high school to subject him to politics."

Nestor was never formally adopted by Gaetz but told People that the Republican “raised me as his own son”.

He said: “Matt is not my biological father, but he raised me as his own son when I came from Cuba after my mother’s death.

“He’s always been a role model in my life,” 

What did Matt Gaetz say about Nestor?

Gaetz said that he had allowed Nestor to go on spring break on Panama City Beach to make up for not being allowed to go to prom or having a "real graduation". 

Speaking to Fox News, Gaetz said: "My son is a college freshman. He had no real graduation, no prom, and I struggled with whether or not to allow him to enjoy spring break at Panama City beach."

Gaetz added: "I allowed him to have an abbreviated one. 

"I did not have a good night's rest the entire time he was there until I knew he was safe, OK, and back at school."

Panama City is just one of the few cities in Florida that have tightened their spring break rules due to unruly visitors and to curb the spread of coronavirus.

No alcohol is allowed on the beaches, and the bars will close at 2am instead of 4am, according to local news outlet WTVM.

Additionally, the city is barring large gatherings of more than 125 people, and anyone caught on the beach with alcohol could face a $500 fine or a jail term.

What did people say about Matt Gaetz’s son?

Twitter erupted with comments and criticisms geared toward Gaetz and Nestor.

One user tweeted: “Matt Gaetz has no sons, adopted or natural. Calling Nestor his 'son' is a fiction to disguise the awkwardness of a man's having no legal relationship to his live-in teenage boy companion.”

Another said: “It's cute he still thinks we believe that Nestor is his 'son'."

A third chimed in: “I want to see the adoption papers for his 'son', a grown man who lives with a grown man.”

Why is Matt Gaetz being investigated? 

Reports broke that Gaetz is being investigated by the Justice Department over whether he had a sexual relationship with a 17-year-old and paid for her travel.

Gaetz denied that he ever had a relationship with any underage girls and said the allegations against him were as searing as they are false.

The Times cited three people familiar with the matter, saying the scrutiny was part of a broader Justice Department probe into one of his political allies and fellow Florida politician, Joel Greenberg, who was indicted in the summer of 2020 on sex trafficking and other charges that he stalked a political opponent. 

He said was a victim of the probe headed by David McGee of the DOJ, and that the department are trying to "smear [his] name."

Gaetz told Axios: ”I believe that there are people at the Department of Justice who are trying to criminalize my sexual conduct, you know, when I was a single guy,

Gaetz told Axios: ”I believe that there are people at the Department of Justice who are trying to criminalize my sexual conduct, you know, when I was a single guy.

“I have definitely, in my single days, provided for women I’ve dated.

“You know, I’ve paid for flights, for hotel rooms. I’ve been, you know, generous as a partner. I think someone is trying to make that look criminal when it is not.”

Gaetz has not been charged with a crime. The Justice Department did not immediately comment.

Topics