Matt Gaetz reported to be leaving the House

[plague311]

Looks like the House's best Ace Ventura look alike might be leaving to take a job at Newsmax. Which would be great because he's a complete and total dumbass, and he'll fit in perfectly at Newsmax. I also think the GOP might start to believe they aren't going to win the House back. I've heard a lot that it sucks being in the minority in either branch of Congress. Source

Quote:

Gaetz, who was first elected to the House in 2016, the same year Trump won the presidency, has told allies that he is thinking about ending his congressional career in its third term. He's started early conversations with Newsmax about joining the conservative network, according to Axios.

[Norman Alexander]

You usually put garbage in the trash can.

[JoeMorgue]

Yeah I imagine being a pure obstructionists troll is a lot harder when you aren't in charge and can't just ignore the other side.

[smartcooky]

He's a whiny, egotistical, insignificant little pissant. He will fit in just fine at Newsmax.

[dudalb]

Originally Posted by smartcooky

He's a whiny, egotistical, insignificant little pissant. He will fit in just fine at Newsmax.

I guess Foxnews, for some reason, was not interested....

[dirtywick]

Typical Trump conservative values. When things get tough, whine and quit.

[Horatius]

Originally Posted by dirtywick

Typical Trump conservative values. When things get tough, whine and quit.

But that's the part I don't get - how "tough" is it, really? Now he literally doesn't have to do anything at all, other than whine about how the Democrats won't listen to the GOP. He needs no policies, no positions, no fact-finding, or all that other stuff he'd have to pretend to care about if they were actually in charge any more. Instead of "whine and quit", it should be "whine and cash your paycheck."

Unless the new gig pays a lot more, of course. What kind of premium would you need to give up a job where you have literally nothing you have to do?

[Bob001]

Originally Posted by plague311

Looks like the House's best Ace Ventura look alike might be leaving to take a job at Newsmax.
.....

That might not be why he's leaving:

Quote:

Representative Matt Gaetz, Republican of Florida and a close ally of former President Donald J. Trump, is being investigated by the Justice Department over whether he had a sexual relationship with a 17-year-old and paid for her to travel with him, according to three people briefed on the matter.

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/03/30/u...stigation.html

[Skeptic Ginger]

This is a new one:

Quote:

n an interview with the Times, Gaetz said that his lawyers had been in contact with Justice Department officials, who informed him that he was the subject of a federal inquiry. “I only know that it has to do with women,” Gaetz said. “I have a suspicion that someone is trying to recategorize my generosity to ex-girlfriends as something more untoward.” The report came on the same day of an apparent leak from his camp that he was considering an early retirement from Congress to seek a role on the conservative network Newsmax.

MSN not paywalled

[Beelzebuddy]

It was then that qanon realized the real pedophiles were the friends they'd made along the way.

[Elagabalus]

Perhaps she's just a beard. Matt is still living with his "son" Nestor.

Rep. Matt Gaetz Said He Has A Teenage Son From Cuba Named Nestor

https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article...stor-son-cuban

[plague311]

Per his twitter a few hours ago:

Quote:

Over the past several weeks my family and I have been victims of an organized criminal extortion involving a former DOJ official seeking $25 million while threatening to smear my name.

We have been cooperating with federal authorities in this matter...

Quote:

...and my father has even been wearing a wire at the FBI’s direction to catch these criminals. The planted leak to the FBI tonight was intended to thwart that investigation.

No part of the allegations against me are true, and the people pushing these lies are targets...

Quote:

...of the ongoing extortion investigation.

I demand the DOJ immediately release the tapes, made at their direction, which implicate their former colleague in crimes against me based on false allegations.

Conspiracy!

Even if this were true he knows that the FBI is not going to release information on an ongoing investigation, especially one in organized crime.

[Stacyhs]

I do hope it's true that Gaetz is leaving Congress. Newsmax can have him. He's just the kind of cockroach that would fit in there. But, oh...the schadenfreude I'd experience if it turns out to be true that he is guilty of having a sexual relationship with a 17 year old and taking her over state lines.

[Norman Alexander]

Originally Posted by the cockroach

Over the past several weeks my family and I have been victims of an organized criminal extortion involving a former DOJ official seeking $25 million while threatening to smear my name.

We have been cooperating with federal authorities in this matter and my father has even been wearing a wire at the FBI’s direction to catch these criminals. The planted leak to the FBI tonight was intended to thwart that investigation.

No part of the allegations against me are true, and the people pushing these lies are targets of the ongoing extortion investigation.

I demand the DOJ immediately release the tapes, made at their direction, which implicate their former colleague in crimes against me based on false allegations.

Even if all this is 100% true and he is as innocent as a little spring lamb, why is it that he has to leave politics and go to Newsmax as a result?

ETA: Could it be that he is just so putrid that he is being forced by his own party to "leave...just leave"?

[Stacyhs]

Originally Posted by Norman Alexander

Even if all this is 100% true and he is as innocent as a little spring lamb, why is it that he has to leave politics and go to Newsmax as a result?

ETA: Could it be that he is just so putrid that he is being forced by his own party to "leave...just leave"?

Nah, too many in his putrid party are just as putrid.

[Resume]

Originally Posted by Elagabalus

Perhaps she's just a beard. Matt is still living with his "son" Nestor.

Rep. Matt Gaetz Said He Has A Teenage Son From Cuba Named Nestor

https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article...stor-son-cuban

He might want a beard that has reached the age of consent in FL.

Ooops.

[portlandatheist]

wow, this story just keeps getting better and better. Newsmax is going to just LOVE this guy

[Checkmite]

This is a real tweet he actually posted

[Stacyhs]

Originally Posted by Checkmite

This is a real tweet he actually posted

My reaction to that entire Twitter page:

[The Don]

Originally Posted by Bob001

That might not be why he's leaving:

Quote:

Representative Matt Gaetz, Republican of Florida and a close ally of former President Donald J. Trump, is being investigated by the Justice Department over whether he had a sexual relationship with a 17-year-old and paid for her to travel with him, according to three people briefed on the matter.

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/03/30/u...stigation.html

I'm sure he could brazen this out if he chose to. It's not like allegations of this nature is a barrier to political advancement any more.

IMO it's just a case of even more money for even less work.

[Skeptic Ginger]

It could also be that internal polls don't give him a chance at reelection in 2022.

IOW the writing's on the wall.

[Segnosaur]

Originally Posted by Skeptic Ginger

It could also be that internal polls don't give him a chance at reelection in 2022.

I think that's doubtful.

According to Wikipedia, the seat that he holds leans very heavily republican, and he has won each of his elections with over 60% of the vote.

Maybe there is a chance he could be primaried, but since he is a Trumper through-and-through, that is also doubtful.

[timhau]

Originally Posted by The Don

I'm sure he could brazen this out if he chose to. It's not like allegations of this nature is a barrier to political advancement any more.

They may be, if you don't choose the right party.

[Segnosaur]

Originally Posted by timhau

Quote:

I'm sure he could brazen this out if he chose to. It's not like allegations of this nature is a barrier to political advancement any more.

They may be, if you don't choose the right party.

Gaetz is a republican, from a district that heavily leans towards the republicans.

The party of "family values" gladly supported President Pussygrabber, even after he had an affair. The party of "law and order" is more than willing to ignore the corruption of the Trump administration. The party that loves the military was willing to see billions of dollars taken from military families to build a useless border wall.

In other words, they could have videotaped proof that Gaetz had assaulted children, and republicans in his district would still vote for him.

[jimbob]

Originally Posted by Stacyhs

My reaction to that entire Twitter page:

http://www.internationalskeptics.com...413c55dcee.jpg

I quite liked this one:

https://twitter.com/menace2snacks/st...083471361?s=20

Quote:

heckled by cartels (he/him)
@menace2snacks
·
9h
Unknown
Replying to
@mattgaetz
Hey
@mattgaetz
if the WOKE MOB makes you delete this in light of the allegations you had an inappropriate (read: illegal) relationship with a 17 year old, I want you to know, I screencapped it to keep it safe.

That way, nobody will forget that you said this. Not ever.

[smartcooky]

"I say we change Florida’s welcome signs to this"

OK, someone is going to have to explain this to me. What is so bad about this tweet?

[The Don]

Originally Posted by smartcooky

"I say we change Florida’s welcome signs to this"

OK, someone is going to have to explain this to me. What is so bad about this tweet?

It's the tweet it was pointing to which stated:

Quote:

There’s no age that you can’t be be sexy.

Which is affirming if you're saying that people over 50, 60, 70, 80 can be sexy but not so much if you're talking about children under 15, 14, 13.

[smartcooky]

Originally Posted by The Don

It's the tweet it was pointing to which stated:

Which is affirming if you're saying that people over 50, 60, 70, 80 can be sexy but not so much if you're talking about children under 15, 14, 13.

OK. I thought that was a reply. I have no real idea how twitter works.

So, did Gaetz quote that tweet?

[The Don]

Originally Posted by smartcooky

OK. I thought that was a reply. I have no real idea how twitter works.

So, did Gaetz quote that tweet?

Yes, he suggested that Florida changed its welcome sign to

Quote:

There’s no age that you can’t be be sexy.

Fine, if you're pitching to the snow geese but given the allegations against him, I'm not 100% sure that was Matt Gaetz' intention.

[smartcooky]

Cheers.

I saw him on Faux News tonight with Carlson...the No. 1 and No. 2 most punchable faces on US television!

[kookbreaker]

A lot of folks noted that on Carlson he referred to the alleged as a “17 year old woman” and not a girl. Seemed like a lot of legitimizing. Even Tucker kinda thought it was weird.

https://twitter.com/atrupar/status/1...825096196?s=21

[Norman Alexander]

Originally Posted by Segnosaur

Gaetz is a republican, from a district that heavily leans towards the republicans.

The party of "family values" gladly supported President Pussygrabber, even after he had an affair. The party of "law and order" is more than willing to ignore the corruption of the Trump administration. The party that loves the military was willing to see billions of dollars taken from military families to build a useless border wall.

In other words, they could have videotaped proof that Gaetz had assaulted children, and republicans in his district would take Tucker's word for it that it doesn't exist, refuse to even look at it if it was presented to them, say it was "fake nooz!" if they did see it accidentally, and would still vote for him.

There's none so blind as those who will not see.

[Craig4]

His demise will be fun to watch. It's unfortunate about his adoptive son though. I'm afraid he's going to be hit with some of the shrapnel.

[Horatius]

I really want to hear more about this alleged blackmail for $25 million thing. Because in my googling, his net worth seems to be somewhat less than $1 million. Even if they thought he'd pilfer his election funds, that's still less than $2 million on hand.

So how did this alleged cabal of Justice Department insiders not realize that he doesn't have the money to pay? Did they think he'd go begging his rich friends for the difference? Maybe a Go Fund Me? Wouldn't expecting your blackmail victim to go scrounging for 25 times the amount of money he actually has kind of work against the idea of blackmail? "Hey, does anyone know why Gaetz is asking everyone for money all of a sudden? Maybe we should look into that....."

Or maybe it's double secret reverse blackmail, where they want people to start asking that so they'll find out what he was up to on their own....which would mean he was guilty.

But again, seriously, who blackmails someone with fake dirt? Particularly a "someone" who could call in the FBI at the drop of a hat. How exactly did they expect this to play out?

There's just all sorts of bizarre in this.

[SuburbanTurkey]

Gaetz investigation seems to have resulted from his friendship with another man charged with sex trafficking.

Quote:

Federal authorities are investigating potential sex trafficking violations by U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz, a probe that emerged from the prosecution of former Seminole County tax collector Joel Greenberg, according to a report by the New York Times.

...

Greenberg resigned as tax collector in June, after he was arrested at his home by federal agents. He faces 14 charges, including allegations that he stalked a political opponent, illegally used a state database to create fake IDs and sex trafficked a minor.

https://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/po...eyq-story.html

[plague311]

Apparently the Tucker Carlson interview, even by his standard, was extremely strange.

Quote:

“If you just saw our Matt Gaetz interview, that was one of the weirdest interviews I have ever conducted,” Carlson said to his viewers after the segment on his Fox News show “Tucker Carlson Tonight.”

And that's coming from Tucker ******* Carlson. The interview included this wtf moment:

Quote:

“I know that there was a demand for money in exchange for a commitment that he could make this investigation go away along with his co-conspirators,” Gaetz told Carlson.

“They even claimed to have specific connections inside the Biden White House,” he added. “Now, I don’t know if that’s true. They were promising that Joe Biden would pardon me. Obviously, I don’t need a pardon. I’m not seeking a pardon. I have not done anything improper or wrong.”

Gaetz is referring to the person that is extorting him and then mentions Biden was going to pardon him. Then says he doesn't need it. I think Matt is panicking.

Source

[JoeMorgue]

I do legit wonder how many of the recent Republicans in Congress were operating under the assumptions that:

- Trump really was going to somehow stay in power forever
- Therefore nobody would investigate any wrong doings they had committed and wouldn't care if they found any.

A lot of them are acting like a card player who suddenly looked down at their hands and realized that just noticed that the flush they have been bluffing with and raising the pot on was really 4 spades and a club and they are no longer sure their opponents don't really have the better hand.

[The Don]

Originally Posted by JoeMorgue

I do legit wonder how many of the recent Republicans in Congress were operating under the assumptions that:

- Trump really was going to somehow stay in power forever
- Therefore nobody would investigate any wrong doings they had committed and wouldn't care if they found any.

A lot of them are acting like a card player who suddenly looked down at their hands and realized that just noticed that the flush they have been bluffing with and raising the pot on was really 4 spades and a club and they are no longer sure their opponents don't really have the better hand.

Maybe they're pinning their hopes on the fact that any jury would contain at least one Republican voter and that, in the current political climate, that Republican could be persuaded that the whole thing is just a Democrat sting and be persuaded to vote to acquit ?

[The Don]

Originally Posted by Horatius

I really want to hear more about this alleged blackmail for $25 million thing. Because in my googling, his net worth seems to be somewhat less than $1 million. Even if they thought he'd pilfer his election funds, that's still less than $2 million on hand.

So how did this alleged cabal of Justice Department insiders not realize that he doesn't have the money to pay? Did they think he'd go begging his rich friends for the difference? Maybe a Go Fund Me? Wouldn't expecting your blackmail victim to go scrounging for 25 times the amount of money he actually has kind of work against the idea of blackmail? "Hey, does anyone know why Gaetz is asking everyone for money all of a sudden? Maybe we should look into that....."

Or maybe it's double secret reverse blackmail, where they want people to start asking that so they'll find out what he was up to on their own....which would mean he was guilty.

But again, seriously, who blackmails someone with fake dirt? Particularly a "someone" who could call in the FBI at the drop of a hat. How exactly did they expect this to play out?

There's just all sorts of bizarre in this.

It makes sense if the evidence is real and that Matt Gaetz is actually guilty.

In that light, presenting the whole thing as a political hit job, and then claiming that the DOJ under Biden is corrupt and is blackmailing him means that at worst any conviction can be handwaved away (and subsequently pardoned by the next GOP President) and at best the jury can be convinced not to convict.

It's not like there would be any negative consequences arising from a claim that he is being wrongfully blackmailed by the DOJ.

[Segnosaur]

Originally Posted by The Don

Maybe they're pinning their hopes on the fact that any jury would contain at least one Republican voter and that, in the current political climate, that Republican could be persuaded that the whole thing is just a Democrat sting and be persuaded to vote to acquit ?

Probably depends on where the trial is held for any charges he might face.

If they hold the trial in the district that Gaetz represents (which skews heavily republican), there is probably a pretty good chance there will be at least one MAGAchud on the jury who will vote not guilty regardless of evidence. On the other hand, if he is tried in a place like Washington D.C. (if that were possible), it would be easier to keep away potential jurors who might be biased.