The allegation surfaces at a time when Florida politicians and their links to underage girls are already a subject of scrutiny. The Orlando Sentinel earlier this year contemplated the possibility that DeSantis’ close ties to Representative Matt Gaetz, which is described as having previously been advantageous, could become a liability now that Gaetz has been associated with a child sex trafficking case.
Still, the investigation may be moving uncomfortably close to the governor’s office. Besides Gaetz himself, the influential Florida political figures under federal scrutiny include Jason Pirozzolo, a hand surgeon and DeSantis campaign donor, and DeSantis’ political appointee Halsey Beshears, the state’s former top business regulator.
(Gaetz has denied allegations and has not been charged, but the associate whose involvement led to the investigation has pled guilty and is cooperating with investigators, and Gaetz is reportedly preparing a legal team for his own defense.)
As for DeSantis, he’s already walking a fine line politically as he tries to maintain lockstep with the former president, which has most recently meant a series of controversial moves in an attempt to prevent schools from mandating COVID-19 precautions for students, and hints that he’s considering further orders that would limit the ability of employers to mandate precautions for the workplace.
Starting out on him a little early?
Starting out on him a little early?
Hubs said the same thing.