Matt Gaetz Under Investigation for Sex Trafficking

[The Z Machine 5,894]

12 minutes ago, massraider said:

I am sorry, as much as we'd love to allow people to change the subject,

 

Pristine like his Venmo

What did I say about the drugs.

18 year old chicks that party with men 2x their age don't tend to keep their noses clean.

[The General 25,546]

This guy is basically Jonah from VEEP.

[Amused to Death 7,842]

1 minute ago, The General said:

This guy is basically Jonah from VEEP.

I just started re-watching this series on HBO Max. So good.

[The General 25,546]

12 minutes ago, Amused to Death said:

I just started re-watching this series on HBO Max. So good.

Oh man. I had never watched it. Watched it all in like 2 weeks this year. One of the better written comedies I have seen. Multiple scenes packed with great jokes.

[Amused to Death 7,842]

3 minutes ago, The General said:

Oh man. I had never watched it. Watched it all in like 2 weeks this year. One of the better written comedies I have seen. Multiple scenes packed with great jokes.

One thing I really liked about it was it's a show about politicians that managed to not be political.

[GordonGekko 620]

11 hours ago, Bucsfan5493 said:

No surprise here, Kinzinger is one of the few Republicans left with an actual spine who will stand up for what’s right. Need more Republicans and politicians in general like him....

 

Direct Headline: Kinzinger raises $2.2 million for reelection fund, anti-Trump PAC

By Tal Axelrod - 04/01/21 10:36 AM EDT 138

https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/545948-kinzinger-raises-22-million-for-reelection-fund-anti-trump-pac

 

******

Kizinger is a RINO.  Illinois is a blue stronghold, but concentrated in a few areas like Cook County, etc, and he has to toe the line to stay politically relevant. This is no different than Tulsi Gabbard being a DINO but was forced to run as a Democrat because she lived in very blue Hawaii and that was the political reality of the entire situation.

As a white male and a military veteran, he needs to have something to "stand out" or "peacock" from the crowded field of politics. And to get into the daily media cycle. And to fund raise which generates power, leverage and votes.

Every negative thing Kinzinger says about Gaetz is money in his pocket for his Orange Man Bad PAC. Kinzinger has a spine, because like Gaetz aligning with Trump, he did what was politically expedient to survive?

Standing up for what right usually doesn't involve getting you millions of dollars for the effort.

[the moops 7,418]

I dont get the "direct headline" shtick

[kodycutter 1,167]

I don't get the the complaining about shtick, shtick,  doesn't add anything, just like my post.

[Amused to Death 7,842]

Adam Kinzinger is a RINO 😂 A former Tea Party conservative is now a RINO! Tell me again that the GOP hasn't moved far to the right.

[The Commish 14,461]

Kinzinger being a "RINO" is just more evidence of where the GOP has moved as a party.  We have examples from the 80s, 90s and now the 2000s.....

[Dinsy Ejotuz 13,819]

17 minutes ago, the moops said:

I dont get the "direct headline" shtick

That's probably like 14c on the list for me.

[Amused to Death 7,842]

2 minutes ago, The Commish said:

Kinzinger being a "RINO" is just more evidence of where the GOP has moved as a party.  We have examples from the 80s, 90s and now the 2000s.....

Actually the more I think about it, maybe he is a Republican In Name Only. He has ethics.

[Ministry of Pain 5,989]

3 hours ago, BladeRunner said:

What?  The point was that it was a hit piece and yet another example of the media lying to us and favoring - yet again - one side of the aisle.  Has nothing to do with Publix.

Amen! Just to make sure folks know where I stand on this bull#### in a teenage sex traffic scandal that seems obvious as a fly to honey thread that some folks are trying to cross their hatred and attach folks to real criminals that really have no business having their names run thru the mud for no reason other than personal jollies. 

If I were to weigh in of course but nothing to see here Nothing

Please disburse!

 

Edited April 9 by Ministry of Pain

[Maurile Tremblay 22,845]

1 hour ago, The Commish said:

Kinzinger being a "RINO" is just more evidence of where the GOP has moved as a party.  We have examples from the 80s, 90s and now the 2000s.....

John Boehner's book, out next week, is apparently a book-length diatribe on this subject.

[quick-hands 697]

3 hours ago, Maurile Tremblay said:

John Boehner's book, out next week, is apparently a book-length diatribe on this subject.

My notebook

Didn't you just site a study that the left  has moved farther than the right has.   But both have moved left.   Correct?

[joffer 12,553]

7 hours ago, The General said:

This guy is basically Jonah from VEEP.

perfect

[Sinn Fein 35,047]

I will say this - nobody plays the victim better than a Trump Party member:

 

Rep. Matt Gaetz@RepMattGaetz

I may be a canceled man in some corners.

I may even be a wanted man by the Deep State.

But I hear the millions of Americans who feel forgotten, canceled, ignored, marginalized and targeted.

I draw confidence knowing that the silent majority is growing louder every day.

[massraider 11,649]

On 4/10/2021 at 4:04 PM, Sinn Fein said:

I will say this - nobody plays the victim better than a Trump Party member:

Rep. Matt Gaetz@RepMattGaetz

I may be a canceled man in some corners.

 

Hey, check out this corner of Florida where he's being cancelled:

Quote

(CNN)Rep. Matt Gaetz, who's facing a federal investigation into sex trafficking allegations, was recently denied a meeting with Donald Trump at his Mar-a-Lago estate as the ex-President and his allies continue to distance themselves from the Florida congressman.

Two people familiar with the matter said Gaetz tried to schedule a visit with Trump after it was first revealed that he was being investigated, but the request was rejected by aides close to the former President, who have urged Trump not to stick his neck out to defend Gaetz.

Nice one.  

[SoBeDad 2,434]

The central Florida ghost candidate allegedly tied to Matt Gaetz has a connection to the 2 South Florida shill candidates, one of which has led to 2 arrests for violating campaign finance laws. All 3 are tied to the same "untraceable" dark money company.  One of these 3 schemes was effective in ousting state democratic senator Jose Rodriguez,  using shill candidate Alex Rodriguez going to bat for new state senator Ileana Garcia, founder of Latinas for Trump.

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.local10.com/news/local/2021/04/12/rep-matt-gaetz-allegedly-connected-to-florida-shill-candidate-scheme-that-has-several-people-facing-charges/%3foutputType=amp

[lazyike 2,019]

On 4/9/2021 at 6:18 PM, Amused to Death said:

Adam Kinzinger is a RINO 😂 A former Tea Party conservative is now a RINO! Tell me again that the GOP hasn't moved far to the right.

Trump supporters call any Republican who doesn’t support Trump a RINO.....it has nothing to do with policy or conservatism. It’s their attempt to keep the wagons circled for Trump

[joffer 12,553]

4 minutes ago, lazyike said:

Trump supporters call any Republican who doesn’t support Trump a RINO.....it has nothing to do with policy or conservatism. It’s their attempt to keep the wagons circled for Trump

think i gotta disagree with you there.  Trump is the party.  for the overwhelming majority of the party, no policy is supported without his blessing.

[Amused to Death 7,842]

1 hour ago, joffer said:

1 hour ago, lazyike said:

Trump supporters call any Republican who doesn’t support Trump a RINO.....it has nothing to do with policy or conservatism. It’s their attempt to keep the wagons circled for Trump

think i gotta disagree with you there.  Trump is the party.  for the overwhelming majority of the party, no policy is supported without his blessing.

I agree that the term "RINO" gets thrown around to describe anyone who doesn't kiss the Trump ring. Hell, Trump began as a "RINO" but he's become the face of the GOP so all others, including conservative Tea Party members like Kinzinger are now outcasts in their own party. Kinzinger is the classic conservative Republican. But to my initial point, it just illustrates how far the GOP has moved away from the Reagan/Bush era Republican. And I used the examples of gun control and immigration. Reagan/Bush were far more moderate in their views - so much so that neither would pass today's GOP purity test as Trump has pushed those issues far to the right.

[massraider 11,649]

Raise your hand if your phone has NOT been seized by the FBI.

 

Put your hand down, Mr. Gaetz.  

[General Malaise 28,129]

9 minutes ago, massraider said:

Raise your hand if your phone has NOT been seized by the FBI.

 

Put your hand down, Mr. Gaetz.  

ooooof......

Also, this from Rolling Stone:

 

Quote

Matt Gaetz’s political action committee is launching a six-figure ad buy to defend the lawmakers against a string of sex-related allegations. The New York Times reported late last month that he is under federal investigation over the alleged sex-trafficking of a 17-year-old girl. As evidence mounts of his illicit activities and connections, Gaetz is naturally claiming it’s all part of a liberal plot to destroy him. “Now we see what’s really behind all of this: Democratic Party and media-driven smears aimed at taking out a Congressman of the United States,” a spokesperson for the Friends of Matt Gaetz, the PAC now serving as a stand-in for the actual friends Gaetz doesn’t seem to have, said in the statement announcing the ad spot, according to Politico.

Ouch

[massraider 11,649]

1 minute ago, General Malaise said:

Ouch

There are a lot of people lowering the rim to 8' and throwing it down.

He had some really great quotes about how this was a conspiracy by lefties who were terrified of him because he was out there, fighting the fight, and draining the swamp.  That's literally a . 

His entire career is barging into one publicity stunt after another, with a brief stop in the FL state legislature to cast the lone dissenting vote on a revenge porn bill.   

[massraider 11,649]

Congressman,  my parents won't be home for two hours.

https://twitter.com/wsvn/status/1382750780097241093

 

[General Malaise 28,129]

49 minutes ago, massraider said:

Congressman,  my parents won't be home for two hours.

https://twitter.com/wsvn/status/1382750780097241093

 

 

[stlrams 691]

2 hours ago, massraider said:

Congressman,  my parents won't be home for two hours.

https://twitter.com/wsvn/status/1382750780097241093

 

Almost movie scene worthy...

[Chaz McNulty 1,334]

2 hours ago, massraider said:

Congressman,  my parents won't be home for two hours.

https://twitter.com/wsvn/status/1382750780097241093

 

OMG.  That's so funny.  Well done!

[Chaz McNulty 1,334]

I would be interested to know who he shared the pics with.

Quote

Among the accusations listed in the House Ethics Committee regarding Rep. Matt Gaetz is sexual misconduct, illicit drug use, sharing nude images on the House floor, misusing identification records, campaign funds for personal use, accepting bribes, improper gratuity and gifts.

 

[moleculo 9,679]

1 minute ago, Chaz McNulty said:

I would be interested to know who he shared the pics with.

 

I always assumed it was John Boehner.

[NorvilleBarnes 4,446]

On 4/15/2021 at 5:14 PM, Chaz McNulty said:

I would be interested to know who he shared the pics with.

 

Seems odd for the House Ethics Committee to go after Gaetz for everything listed and just give him a pass on child sex trafficking.

[jm192 2,302]

On 4/13/2021 at 8:18 AM, lazyike said:

Trump supporters call any Republican who doesn’t support Trump a RINO.....it has nothing to do with policy or conservatism. It’s their attempt to keep the wagons circled for Trump

Sad truth.

[dkp993 8,143]

6 minutes ago, jm192 said:

On 4/13/2021 at 6:18 AM, lazyike said:

Trump supporters call any Republican who doesn’t support Trump a RINO.....it has nothing to do with policy or conservatism. It’s their attempt to keep the wagons circled for Trump

Sad truth.

It’s a cancer to the party imo. 
 

 

 

*for clarity I’m speaking to that dogged belief and inflexibility. Not calling Trump a cancer

Edited April 18 by dkp993

[Sea Duck 1,606]

11 hours ago, NorvilleBarnes said:

On 4/15/2021 at 2:14 PM, Chaz McNulty said:

I would be interested to know who he shared the pics with.

Seems odd for the House Ethics Committee to go after Gaetz for everything listed and just give him a pass on child sex trafficking.

You don't think that "sexual misconduct" would cover sex trafficking?

[NorvilleBarnes 4,446]

5 hours ago, Sea Duck said:

16 hours ago, NorvilleBarnes said:

On 4/15/2021 at 5:14 PM, Chaz McNulty said:

I would be interested to know who he shared the pics with.

Seems odd for the House Ethics Committee to go after Gaetz for everything listed and just give him a pass on child sex trafficking.

You don't think that "sexual misconduct" would cover sex trafficking?

No, do you?

[Sea Duck 1,606]

35 minutes ago, NorvilleBarnes said:

6 hours ago, Sea Duck said:

You don't think that "sexual misconduct" would cover sex trafficking?

No, do you?

Um, yes.

"Misconduct" is a often a layman's term, which can encompass a wide variety of acts, including illegal ones. For example, the state of Florida has legally defined "sexual misconduct" as a sexual relationship between a vulnerable person and an adult who is in a position of trust.

Now, that's not to say that I think Congress was specifically referencing Florida law when they announced the investigation into Gaetz. I'm just pointing out that "misconduct" can cover a lot of ground and that it would be presumptuous to assume that it doesn't include trafficking.

[NorvilleBarnes 4,446]

3 hours ago, Sea Duck said:

Um, yes.

"Misconduct" is a often a layman's term, which can encompass a wide variety of acts, including illegal ones. For example, the state of Florida has legally defined "sexual misconduct" as a sexual relationship between a vulnerable person and an adult who is in a position of trust.

Now, that's not to say that I think Congress was specifically referencing Florida law when they announced the investigation into Gaetz. I'm just pointing out that "misconduct" can cover a lot of ground and that it would be presumptuous to assume that it doesn't include trafficking.

Reading the definition in your link it doesn't seem to match but again I'm not a lawyer. It's like suspecting someone of murder and investigating them for criminal mischief. Child sex trafficking just seems worse than "misconduct".

[sho nuff 17,581]

Does it matter what the ethics Committee does in that?  I mean...isnt that what the DOJ is for?

[Sea Duck 1,606]

2 minutes ago, NorvilleBarnes said:

Reading the definition in your link it doesn't seem to match but again I'm not a lawyer. It's like suspecting someone of murder and investigating them for criminal mischief. Child sex trafficking just seems worse than "misconduct".

No.

"Murder," "Criminal Mischief" and "Sex Trafficking" are all well-defined crimes under state and/or federal law. If Congress stated that they were investigating one of those things, then yes it would be safe to assume that they were referring to those specific crimes.

However, "sexual misconduct" is not a well-defined or specific crime under federal law as far as I know. It is an umbrella term which has many different definitions (depending on the source) and could refer to literally thousands of different things.

It is frankly bizarre to assume that Congress is using the same narrow definition that you are.

[Sea Duck 1,606]

Just now, sho nuff said:

Does it matter what the ethics Committee does in that?  I mean...isnt that what the DOJ is for?

Maybe Congress secretly knows that he's innocent of sex trafficking?!

[NorvilleBarnes 4,446]

4 minutes ago, Sea Duck said:

No.

"Murder," "Criminal Mischief" and "Sex Trafficking" are all well-defined crimes under state and/or federal law. If Congress stated that they were investigating one of those things, then yes it would be safe to assume that they were referring to those specific crimes.

However, "sexual misconduct" is not a well-defined or specific crime under federal law as far as I know. It is an umbrella term which has many different definitions (depending on the source) and could refer to literally thousands of different things.

It is frankly bizarre to assume that Congress is using the same narrow definition that you are.

I'm not making any assumptions. I'm not making any definitions. I'm asking questions about the difference between what's being discussed and the list they have. I've said several times I'm not a lawyer - just honestly asking about the difference.

[Sinn Fein 35,047]

Hmmm... seems the wingman wrote a letter to Roger Stone, outlining the problem - including Gaetz paying for sex with a minor - and agreed to wire $250K in exchange for Stone's help with a pardon.

[Sinn Fein 35,047]

Bombshell Letter: Gaetz Paid for Sex With Minor, Wingman Says

 

Daily Beast - so I think they have the letter, but I don't know how much weight I would put into it just yet.  Greenberg was/is under a lot of legal pressure - so its certainly possible he embellished a little here.  That is why the Feds have seized Gaetz' phone and are looking for corroborating evidence.

 

But, if its true, this should be the end of Mr. Gaetz' congressional career. 

[The Commish 14,461]

2 minutes ago, Sinn Fein said:

Bombshell Letter: Gaetz Paid for Sex With Minor, Wingman Says

 

Daily Beast - so I think they have the letter, but I don't know how much weight I would put into it just yet.  Greenberg was/is under a lot of legal pressure - so its certainly possible he embellished a little here.  That is why the Feds have seized Gaetz' phone and are looking for corroborating evidence.

 

But, if its true, this should be the end of Mr. Gaetz' congressional career. 

Why?  If there's one thing the current GOP has been consistent on it's turning a blind eye to the crazy and disgusting.

[Sinn Fein 35,047]

1 minute ago, The Commish said:

Why?  If there's one thing the current GOP has been consistent on it's turning a blind eye to the crazy and disgusting.

I think mostly because they don't want to have the 2022 mid-terms be about Matt Gaetz.  

GOP think, with good reason, that they can win back some of the swing districts in 22 - but that becomes more difficult if Gaetz is the face of the party.

[Sammy3469 10,430]

Pretty sure if Roger Stone asks you to type up a confession, you shouldn’t do it.   

[The Commish 14,461]

11 hours ago, Sinn Fein said:

I think mostly because they don't want to have the 2022 mid-terms be about Matt Gaetz.  

GOP think, with good reason, that they can win back some of the swing districts in 22 - but that becomes more difficult if Gaetz is the face of the party.

I'll believe it when I see it.  I don't think meaningful "swing" districts even exist any more and I certainly don't think the knuckle draggers are going to think twice about Gaetz.  It's just "fake news" to them and obviously untrue.  Very easy for the base to dismiss in this day and age.

[-fish- 14,484]

Shouldn't Gaetz have been charged with something by now?  Now the investigation has shifted to his ties with medical marijuana.  Sounds like another ill-advised attempt to leak information from a half-assed investigation hoping someone will resign.    

[the moops 7,418]

33 minutes ago, -fish- said:

Shouldn't Gaetz have been charged with something by now?  Now the investigation has shifted to his ties with medical marijuana.  Sounds like another ill-advised attempt to leak information from a half-assed investigation hoping someone will resign.    

No, it sounds like an ongoing investigation that takes time to get right - especially when it concerns underage girls and a sitting congressman