Anton Lazzaro, a Minnesota Republican and close ally of Donald Trump has been arrested for underage sex trafficking, The Daily Beast reported Thursday, citing an FBI affidavit.
Lazzaro, a prominent Trump supporter who often appeared on Fox News to promote the former president and other GOP politicians, was known for showing off his wealthy and lavish lifestyle on social media. He was indicted on five counts of sex trafficking of a minor and three counts of obstruction of justice, according to The Beast.
“U.S. Magistrate Judge Becky R. Thorson ordered that Lazzaro remain jailed until a court hearing next week, after prosecutors claimed six victims had asked for additional protection from Lazzaro,” said the report.
“It’s their strong wish that the United States proceed with a recommendation of detention,” said Judge Thorson, referring to the requests of the survivors, according to The Beast.
The court documents say that Lazzaro is accused of recruiting at least five underage victims for paid sex between May and December of 2020 and attempting to recruit a sixth. The indictment says he then “knowingly and intentionally interfered” with the FBI’s investigation as he became aware of it.
Prosecutors accuse Lazzaro of having “recruited” at least five underage victims for paid sex between May and December last year, and trying to entice a sixth. It also says he “knowingly and intentionally interfered” with the investigation as it closed in on him.
Lazzaro, a prominent Trump supporter is the second Republican in the past year to be involved in such a scandal. Former GOP tax collector Joel Greenberg pleaded guilty to trafficking a minor along with other charges. He was one of the friends in Rep. Matt Gaetz’s (R-FL) inner circle and Gaetz is now also under investigation, though he denies all accusations.