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Matt Gaetz Receiving Little Support From GOP Colleagues Amid Sex Trafficking Allegations
Red State ^ | 04/01/2021 | Jeff Charles

Posted on 04/01/2021 6:28:50 PM PDT by SeekAndFind

It appears that some Republican lawmakers aren’t exactly exerting themselves to support Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) after the news broke that he is under investigation for allegedly sex trafficking and having inappropriate relations with a 17-year-old girl. Their reticence to speak on Gaetz’s behalf could indicate they are simply being cautious and waiting until all of the facts come out. But it seems more likely that their silence on the matter is motivated by the lawmaker’s staunch support for former President Donald Trump and his efforts against the GOP establishment.

The Hill reported:

Few of Gaetz’s GOP colleagues are coming to the defense of the third-term Floridian following a New York Times report that the Department of Justice (DOJ) is investigating allegations of sexual misconduct with — and interstate trafficking of — a minor roughly two years ago. And a number of Republicans, while warning against jumping to premature conclusions about Gaetz’s conduct, also suggested they wouldn’t miss him if he were gone.

A GOP lawmaker who preferred to remain anonymous said: “I don’t know anything about this situation other than to say he has certainly made enemies and painted a bull’s-eye on his back.”

He added, “This appears to be a self-inflicted wound.”

Some of Gaetz’s colleagues indicated they were hesitant to publicly support him because they are not sure whether or not to believe his story. “My personal view is there are a lot of holes in his story and his denial wasn’t really a denial. ‘I never traveled with an underage woman’ isn’t exactly a denial of relations with an underage woman,” another GOP lawmaker said.

“That said, until charges are filed, I don’t think [punitive] action is warranted,” they continued. “As disgusting as the allegations are, [they’re] still just allegations, and we haven’t heard from the accuser. If charges are filed, immediately remove [him] from committees or whatever precedent says from the Chris Collins issue when he was charged. Basically, if this is true, Matt’s done, and we need to make that clear.”

Another Republican lawmaker stated that accusations are not surprising. “Everyone already knew Gaetz was a ticking time bomb and his days in the House were numbered, but this story is more bizarre than expected,” the lawmaker said.

Other Republicans in Congress criticized Gaetz’s appearance with Fox News’ Tucker Carlson in which he denied the allegations and explained that a member of the Justice Department was attempting to extort him.

“I can say that actually you and I went to dinner about two years ago, your wife was there, and I brought a friend of mine — you’ll remember her — and she was actually threatened by the FBI, told that if she wouldn’t cop to the fact that somehow I was involved in some pay-for-play scheme, that could face trouble,” Gaetz said. “So I do believe there are people at the Department of Justice that are trying to smear me. Providing for flights and hotel rooms for people that you’re dating who are of legal age is not a crime.”

“His bizarre display on Tucker is an attempt to muddy the issues,” another lawmaker said.

Gaetz has been known for his vocal support of Trump and his theatrics in Congress and elsewhere. It is a quality that has annoyed some of his colleagues who are likely the establishment types. However, some on the right have made an interesting observation: The Trump camp has not spoken up about the story.

“I think it speaks volumes that ‘Trump World’ isn’t jumping to his defense. I can’t say concretely, but his interview with Tucker did him no favors,” a former Trump aide said.

“No one named Trump is out defending him — that’s a pretty big sign,” they added.

House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) on Wednesday chimed in on the matter, affirming that Gaetz has the right to defend himself. He stated the congressman should be allowed to keep his committee assignment until evidence surfaces proving his guilt.

“Those are serious implications. If it comes out to be true, yes, we would remove him if that’s the case,” he told Fox News. “But right now, Matt Gaetz says that it’s not true and we don’t have any information. So let’s get all the information.”

Since news of the investigation surfaced on Tuesday, other facts have emerged giving more details about the story. RedState’s Bonchie reported that on Wednesday, Gaetz’s father, a former Florida state senator, provided an email showing that he was working with the FBI on an investigation regarding the allegations that a member of the Justice Department was trying to extort Gaetz.

So far, we’ve seen no evidence proving that Gaetz is guilty of any inappropriate activity with a minor. But to make things even weirder, it appears there may be indications that the representative’s claims of extortion might be accurate. His father stated that two men approached him after learning about the federal investigation stating that if the elder Gaetz give money to fund an effort to locate Robert A. Levinson, an American who was held hostage In Iran, they would do something about the younger Gaetz’s legal problems.

But regardless of whether or not the suspicions are true, it appears Gaetz is on his own, at least for the time being.


TOPICS: Conspiracy; Government; Politics; Society
KEYWORDS: backstabbers; gaetz; gaetzsexsandal; gop; gopestablishment; mattgaetz; rinos; sextrafficking; support
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1 posted on 04/01/2021 6:28:50 PM PDT by SeekAndFind
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To: SeekAndFind

Question: How huge was Eric Swalwell’s support from the Democrats when the news came out that this House Intelligence Committee member was sleeping with a Chinese spy?


2 posted on 04/01/2021 6:29:43 PM PDT by SeekAndFind
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To: SeekAndFind
Question: How huge was Eric Swalwell’s support from the Democrats when the news came out that this House Intelligence Committee member was sleeping with a Chinese spy?

Well, to answer your question, he's back on the committee.


3 posted on 04/01/2021 6:31:35 PM PDT by bagster ("Even bad men love their mamas".)
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To: All


The GOP has no use for Gaetz.

They like him as much as Rudy Giuliani and Don Trump, Jr.

Gaetz is making speeches about Hunter, and no one was happy with him after that.


4 posted on 04/01/2021 6:31:58 PM PDT by AnthonySoprano (‘’’)
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To: SeekAndFind
When is Andrew Cuomo going to be forced to resign by the Democrats?

Flashback, 2017:

https://www.cnn.com/2017/11/16/politics/settlements-congress-sexual-harassment/index.html

On Thursday, the Office of Compliance released additional information indicating that it has paid victims more than $17 million since its creation in the 1990s. That includes all settlements, not just related to sexual harassment, but also discrimination and other cases.

5 posted on 04/01/2021 6:32:49 PM PDT by Kazan
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To: AnthonySoprano
6-CCA5-C98-A7-B3-4-AA8-9-AE3-1473-F8-C17-A25
6 posted on 04/01/2021 6:33:32 PM PDT by AnthonySoprano (‘’’)
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To: SeekAndFind

Democrats circle the wagons around any Democrat who is accused of anything. Republicans form a circular firing squad around one of theirs.


7 posted on 04/01/2021 6:33:41 PM PDT by Freee-dame
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To: AnthonySoprano
2-B55-B9-AA-605-C-48-B9-914-D-2-B6-FBA62-E26-A

8 posted on 04/01/2021 6:34:54 PM PDT by AnthonySoprano (‘’’)
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To: SeekAndFind

First let’s just say it’s 100% true. It sounds like it’s a BS overreach charge.

First, it should be a state charge if he had sex with a minor. And if so was it legal? Some states it is legal. Second if she traveled with him and no sex occurred that is not trafficking. Hell it’s not trafficking either way it’s an overreach of the law and not what was intended.

But there is definitely something odd going on with this whole story. But anyway you slice it it shouldn’t be a federal issue.


9 posted on 04/01/2021 6:35:13 PM PDT by for-q-clinton
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To: SeekAndFind

First let’s just say it’s 100% true. It sounds like it’s a BS overreach charge.

First, it should be a state charge if he had sex with a minor. And if so was it legal? Some states it is legal. Second if she traveled with him and no sex occurred that is not trafficking. Hell it’s not trafficking either way it’s an overreach of the law and not what was intended.

But there is definitely something odd going on with this whole story. But anyway you slice it it shouldn’t be a federal issue.


10 posted on 04/01/2021 6:35:13 PM PDT by for-q-clinton
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To: All
8-B7-E5-D6-E-7076-45-D1-8-F98-9-C3-E36-B4-F4-E9
11 posted on 04/01/2021 6:35:45 PM PDT by AnthonySoprano (‘’’)
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To: SeekAndFind

Ewic Swalwell huge? That’s what FangFang said.


12 posted on 04/01/2021 6:39:02 PM PDT by PGalt (past peak civilization?)
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To: SeekAndFind

Most of the elected Republicans are nothing more than Assistant Democrats.

Matt is not one of them, they want him gone, not Liz Cheney.


13 posted on 04/01/2021 6:40:16 PM PDT by Lurkinanloomin (Natural Born Citizens Are Born Here of Citizen Parents)(Know Islam, No Peace - No Islam, Know Peace)
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To: SeekAndFind

And no one is talking about Hunter’s text about Hallie‘S accusation of his inappropriate sexual contact with his niece, Natalie
Smoke screen.


14 posted on 04/01/2021 6:40:30 PM PDT by griswold3
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And they attack Marjorie Taylor Greene and vote in secret to keep Liz Cheney on her leadership committee.


15 posted on 04/01/2021 6:41:21 PM PDT by TakebackGOP
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To: SeekAndFind

Matt Gaetz seems like a strange dude, but this thing is a straight up political hit by the Deep State. Politically, all he has done is support President Trump. As always, where is the GOP? They do not support their own.


16 posted on 04/01/2021 6:41:23 PM PDT by cdcdawg (WTF is "Jim Eagle?")
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To: Freee-dame

“Democrats circle the wagons around any Democrat who is accused of anything. Republicans form a circular firing squad around one of theirs.”

So which one is more honest?

wy69


17 posted on 04/01/2021 6:43:12 PM PDT by whitney69
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To: cdcdawg

The articles read as if other congressman do not like Gaetz because he is such an outspoken the supporter of President Trump. This is just more evidence that the Republicans are just part of the Uniparty. They don’t mind being in the minority as long as they get to be part of the swamp. It is disgusting.


18 posted on 04/01/2021 6:44:36 PM PDT by Freee-dame
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To: SeekAndFind

See my tagline.


19 posted on 04/01/2021 6:52:17 PM PDT by Behind Liberal Lines (Their side circles the wagons. Our side revs up the bus)
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To: SeekAndFind

Either Gaetz has the proof that he and his family were being black mailed, or the Democrat politicos have a new way to silence their opposition, namely Hillary’s old ploy of the “politics of personal destruction”.

Doesn’t really matter if it is true or not. It will be used and lied about repeatedly, until he either resigns, or loses his committee seats and can no longer irritate the Bidens or the Rinos. Doesn’t take much, particularly if the corrupt new regime wants it to happen.

False news is still news. The damage is done. But then again, he may surprise us all. Check it out tomorrow.


20 posted on 04/01/2021 6:52:33 PM PDT by Richard Axtell (President Asterisk is an ass to risk the economy and rights of all Americans.)
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