It's hard to say. The whole thing is very confusing.
I have a hard time believing it's all fabricated, though. I have a feeling there was substantial wrongdoing on Gaetz's part, though it's possible he didn't know the girl was 17, and was just enjoying his friend supplying him with young hookers, and he didn't ask any questions. Even if that's the story, this is a really bad look, and still illegal.