Is it time to talk about Matt Gaetz yet?

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   Valeantposted 4 years ago

   Sex trafficker or victim of extortion?
   
   https://www.businessinsider.com/matt-ga … ine-2021-3
   
   

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      IslandBitesposted 4 years agoin reply to this

      Maybe both?

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         Valeantposted 4 years agoin reply to this

         Maybe.  Should be interesting to see where this goes.

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      Credence2posted 4 years agoin reply to this

      Deleted
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         GA Andersonposted 4 years agoin reply to this

         But what if she was presented as being 18? What if her `beautiful' appearance gave no reason to think she wasn't of consenting age? What if she said she was 18 and presented a fake ID? After all, she was a member of a website dedicated to finding `sugar daddies. Not a lot of innocence there.
         
         Those are only half-hearted defense attempts. Even if he was legitimately fooled, the details of the story made me dislike him from the start. But, those are legitimate questions to consider before convicting the guy for sex trafficking.
         
         If he truly didn't know she was a minor then I can't support the mentioned criminal charges, even if the alleged details do show him to be a scuzzy character.
         
         GA

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            IslandBitesposted 4 years agoin reply to this

            True. But apparently that is not the only allegation.
            
            https://www.nytimes.com/2021/04/01/us/p … tment.html

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               GA Andersonposted 4 years agoin reply to this

               I was familiar with your link. I knew about the different directions of the investigation. So, my original comment included those thoughts.
               
               But still . . . just looking at the guy after reading about him and I nearly fell off my chair when I read part of the statement he put out: “Matt Gaetz has never paid for sex,”
               
               I know, I know, it's wrong to judge someone by their appearance, but geesh, just look at the guy. ;-0
               
               GA

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            Credence2posted 4 years agoin reply to this

            I can go along with that, I have to adhere to innocent until proven guilty. 
            
            But I resent this person, guilty of poor judgement at a minimum, taking cover behind the skirts of Rightwing politics and media, making endless excuses "deep state" stuff.
            
            These fellows know that they are in public positions scrutinized under the public eye. In these tumultuous times, one should err on the side of caution.

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   Valeantposted 4 years ago

   From the NYT:
   
   Gaetz and his friend, Joel Greenberg, who was indicted last year on federal sex trafficking charges, [allegedly] recruited women online for sex and sent them money via Cash App and Apple Pay. Although Times reporters reviewed text messages related to the encounters as well as the payment receipts, the newspaper said some payments were made via cash from hotel ATMs in Florida.
   
   Some of the people involved in the encounters, including Gaetz, would take the drug ecstasy before sex, the Times reported.

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      Sharlee01posted 4 years agoin reply to this

      Not impressed by all the unidentified sources. But, I am very concerned that the DOJ has an ongoing investigation.  I don't think they would be investigating these allegations this long if there was not there, there. This will be an interesting story to follow.  If he is charged, I will presume the DOJ has a good case.

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         Valeantposted 4 years agoin reply to this

         Yeah, I added the word 'allegedly' since there are a lot of details that need to be sorted through.  What makes it tougher for him is that this investigation was started under Barr.  It's not like a partisan attack.

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            Sharlee01posted 4 years agoin reply to this

            I noted that it started under Barr. It does appear there something there, the investigation has been ongoing for a year.

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            IslandBitesposted 4 years agoin reply to this

            Yes, and at the same time his friend was indicted. So the rumor is Greenberg is talking.
            
            Now there is also the story about him showing pictures of naked women to colleagues.

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   Dean Traylorposted 4 years ago

   One thing about stories like this one ; they always involve some form public relation. And, when someone involved in PR clean-up decides to resign, that's a big deal. https://thehill.com/homenews/house/5461 … or-resigns

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   Live to Learnposted 4 years ago

   This story is so insanely bizarre, until I hear more info i'll withhold judgment. But, something must be amiss for anything this crazy to be happening.

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      Valeantposted 4 years agoin reply to this

      We can all agree on something for a change, that this story is really weird.

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      GA Andersonposted 4 years agoin reply to this

      I don't find it bizarre or crazy. If it is true (and I am leaning that it is), it is just one more story about the abuses of powerful men with money.
      
      But, I will add a note that is entirely probable that the girl was presented, and accepted, as being 18—a legally consenting adult. I would say that the difference between a beautiful 17 yr.-old and a beautiful 18 yr.-old is impossible to know without asking for ID. And we all know how easy it is to get real-looking fake IDs.
      
      What if the contact information, (those websites), presented this girl as being 18? Surely none would argue that all Facebook users are at least 13 yrs.-old, or that dating site profiles are completely truthful.
      
      The age part is where I might give the man the benefit of the doubt. If she was 18 then this would be a non-headline issue.
      
      GA

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   IslandBitesposted 4 years ago

   Joel Greenberg, a Seminole County tax collector and friend of embattled GOP Rep. Matt Gaetz (Fla.), is expected to strike a plea deal, his attorneys said in court Thursday.
   
   No plea deal has been finalized, but assistant U.S. Attorney Roger Handberg told a judge on Thursday that "we believe this case will be a plea," according to CNN.
   
   "He (Greenberg) is uniquely situated... I'm sure Matt Gaetz is not feeling very comfortable today," Fritz Scheller, a lawyer for Greenberg, said after the hearing.

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