The Matt Gaetz Soap Opera

Alefroth · Post by **Alefroth** » Fri Apr 09, 2021 12:12 am

Is he alleged to have traveled to Alabama or Georgia where the age of consent is 16? Is this why he is being investigated for sex trafficking and not statutory rape?

Jaymann · Post by **Jaymann** » Sat Apr 10, 2021 12:01 pm

MeidasTouch.com
@MeidasTouch

Matt Gaetz must have misunderstood when he was told people use Venmo to make minor purchases.

malchior · Post by **malchior** » Sat Apr 10, 2021 12:07 pm

Alefroth wrote: ↑Fri Apr 09, 2021 12:12 am Is he alleged to have traveled to Alabama or Georgia where the age of consent is 16? Is this why he is being investigated for sex trafficking and not statutory rape?

I think that's part of it and also international travel might have been involved. A lot of people have been saying to not focus on the "state's line" stuff though for exact point you are making here. It is a problem for him in a lot of different ways.

Smoove_B · Post by **Smoove_B** » Sat Apr 10, 2021 12:09 pm

Plus I'm sure there's just one instance of using Venmo to pay for illicit activities. I'm sure that one time it was just a "bad decision" and he wasn't thinking clearly. I'm confident there aren't any other entries demonstrating a pattern of behavior, and certainly none that involve paying someone under the age of 18. What are the chances that the single instance that was found just happened to be after she was 18.5 years old?

Daehawk · Post by **Daehawk** » Sat Apr 10, 2021 12:21 pm

And just think...for every one of these who get spotted there are dozens hid in the grass still doing their nasty shit.

malchior · Post by **malchior** » Sat Apr 10, 2021 3:24 pm

That's interesting...

Pyperkub · Post by **Pyperkub** » Sat Apr 10, 2021 6:07 pm

malchior wrote:That's interesting...

That guy and the firm are going to be busy. Gaetz is probably lucky to get in early....

Skinypupy · Post by **Skinypupy** » Sat Apr 10, 2021 9:11 pm

These people are nothing if they can't be the perpetual victim.

Dude thinks he’s some kind of a martyr for paying for sex.

Daehawk · Post by **Daehawk** » Sat Apr 10, 2021 9:17 pm

Maybe he can take his buddies with him.

Smoove_B · Post by **Smoove_B** » Wed Apr 14, 2021 9:42 am

We haven't seen an update in a while, so here you go:

The first thing some of the women were asked to do when they got to the house parties in the gated community in suburban Orlando was to put away their cellphones, according to two women in attendance who spoke to CNN in recent days. The men inside, a who's who of local Republican officials that often included Rep. Matt Gaetz, did not want the night's activities documented.

The partygoers, at times dressed in formal wear from a political event they'd just left, mingled and shared drugs like cocaine and ecstasy. Some had sex.

Gaetz, the brash Republican, liked to discuss politics, said one of the women. He behaved like a "frat type of party boy," she said, sometimes taking pills she believed were recreational drugs.

...

One of the women said she received money from Greenberg after some of the parties. She said that some of the payments were for providing sex but would not say who she slept with. She did say she never received money directly from Gaetz.

Some of the parties were more low-key affairs, the other woman said. Some took place in hotel suites at the end of alcohol-filled political functions.

"No one ever wants to stop partying, stop drinking, once you've had a few glasses of champagne in you," she said.

hepcat · Post by **hepcat** » Wed Apr 14, 2021 10:12 am

Is there a betting pool yet for what the nationality will be of the next kid Gaetz whips out in an effort to distract people?

Carpet_pissr · Post by **Carpet_pissr** » Wed Apr 14, 2021 12:14 pm

Twist! He might actually have a REAL kid that shows up somewhere in this soap opera unless he’s been super careful, as frat boys tend to be.

hepcat · Post by **hepcat** » Fri Apr 16, 2021 9:13 am

I wasn't aware of the back story for the investigation that eventually lead to Gaetz. I find it somewhat satisfying that sometimes karma does work.

Before the feds got involved in late 2019 or early 2020, Greenberg had already been on the radar of local law enforcement — for, among other things, allegedly misusing public funds, handing lucrative and unnecessary contracts and state jobs to friends and allies, and impersonating a police officer, pulling over a woman for speeding using a badge and lights on his private vehicle.

But local police did not start investigating Greenberg until, according the a federal indictment, he tried to derail a GOP primary challenger, prep school music teacher Brian Beute, by sending his school a fraudulent note claiming Beute had carried on an inappropriate sexual relationship with a student. Beute roped in a lawyer acquaintance, David Bear, who convinced the sheriff's office that whoever was behind the smear campaign had committed a crime. Bear also successfully encouraged the sheriff's office to seek help from the feds, the Post reports.

"When authorities arrested Greenberg and sifted through his electronic records and devices — according to documents and people involved in the case — they discovered a medley of other alleged wrongdoing, leading them to open an investigation of possible sex trafficking involving a far more high-profile Florida Republican," Gaetz, the Post reports. Beute thought about dropping the matter after local investigators cleared him of having sex with a student, but "he decided not to," Bear told the Post. "All of these other things mushroomed out of that one decision for him to stand tall."

Holman · Post by **Holman** » Thu Apr 29, 2021 8:47 pm

Oh, hey, some news...

[I don't know why the original tweets disappeared, but here they are again:]

Jaymann · Post by **Jaymann** » Thu Apr 29, 2021 8:58 pm

We haven't seen a smoking gun like this since Florida Man paid off a porn star.

Zaxxon · Post by **Zaxxon** » Thu Apr 29, 2021 8:59 pm

Tweet deleted.

Smoove_B · Post by **Smoove_B** » Thu Apr 29, 2021 9:01 pm

Here's the article the Tweet was referencing, fwiw.

Somebody is in a panic right now, for sure.

hepcat · Post by **hepcat** » Thu Apr 29, 2021 9:07 pm

How can Stone literally admitting he’ll take 250 thousand dollars in exchange for trying to get Greenberg a pardon also not illegal?

malchior · Post by **malchior** » Thu Apr 29, 2021 9:12 pm

hepcat wrote: ↑Thu Apr 29, 2021 9:07 pm How can Stone literally admitting he’ll take 250 thousand dollars in exchange for trying to get Greenberg a pardon also not illegal?

It possibly isn't illegal. I don't know if anyone ever contemplated making it illegal to sell a pardon. Someone might be able to take an existing law into consideration and twist it but anyone's guess what you'd go after. Stone wasn't a public official and unless say ... Trump was soliciting it via Stone it wouldn't be bribery.

Post by **ImLawBoy** » Fri Apr 30, 2021 9:43 am

malchior wrote: ↑Thu Apr 29, 2021 9:12 pm
hepcat wrote: ↑Thu Apr 29, 2021 9:07 pm How can Stone literally admitting he’ll take 250 thousand dollars in exchange for trying to get Greenberg a pardon also not illegal?
It possibly isn't illegal. I don't know if anyone ever contemplated making it illegal to sell a pardon. Someone might be able to take an existing law into consideration and twist it but anyone's guess what you'd go after. Stone wasn't a public official and unless say ... Trump was soliciting it via Stone it wouldn't be bribery.

Yeah, I'm not an expert in this area of law, but this seems akin to hiring Stone as a lobbyist. There might be some rules and regulations around that, but just hiring someone connected (but who is not a government official) to try to get you a pardon doesn't seem illegal on its face.

Scraper · Post by **Scraper** » Fri Apr 30, 2021 9:56 am

ImLawBoy wrote: ↑Fri Apr 30, 2021 9:43 am
malchior wrote: ↑Thu Apr 29, 2021 9:12 pm
hepcat wrote: ↑Thu Apr 29, 2021 9:07 pm How can Stone literally admitting he’ll take 250 thousand dollars in exchange for trying to get Greenberg a pardon also not illegal?
It possibly isn't illegal. I don't know if anyone ever contemplated making it illegal to sell a pardon. Someone might be able to take an existing law into consideration and twist it but anyone's guess what you'd go after. Stone wasn't a public official and unless say ... Trump was soliciting it via Stone it wouldn't be bribery.
Yeah, I'm not an expert in this area of law, but this seems akin to hiring Stone as a lobbyist. There might be some rules and regulations around that, but just hiring someone connected (but who is not a government official) to try to get you a pardon doesn't seem illegal on its face.

I think you're right. This is just another one of those unwritten rules of democracy that Trump and his Ilk are more than happy to break because it's not illegal. Walk as close to the line as possible without going over it, ethics be damned, morals be damned, the country be damned.

Carpet_pissr · Post by **Carpet_pissr** » Fri Apr 30, 2021 10:12 am

Scraper wrote: ↑Fri Apr 30, 2021 9:56 amjust another one of those unwritten rules of democracy that Trump and his Ilk are more than happy to break because it's not illegal. Walk as close to the line as possible without going over it, ethics be damned, morals be damned, the country be damned.

+1

Skinypupy · Post by **Skinypupy** » Thu May 13, 2021 1:49 pm

Looks like Gaetz' BFF Greenberg will be changing his plea to guilty on Monday.

That can't be good news for Gaetz.

malchior · Post by **malchior** » Fri May 14, 2021 12:01 am

Probably not good for Gaetz but who knows anymore. After the FEC debacle last week my faith in our ability to hold the powerful accountable is in serious doubt. Not that we had a stellar track record to begin with.

Edit: With a reference if anyone is not aware of the utter banana republic bullshit the Republican commissioners at the FEC pulled off to let Trump off the hook for the crimes which Cohen plead guilty to.

Zarathud · Post by **Zarathud** » Fri May 14, 2021 3:22 am

It’s all loyalty tests. But only to benefit Trump. He’ll let Gatez go to jail — like Cohen.

Skinypupy · Post by **Skinypupy** » Fri May 14, 2021 8:12 pm

New story just dropped...and it’s a doozy. Got a little bit of everything: MMF threesomes, coke use, sex workers given no show jobs and paid by the government, etc.

coopasonic · Post by **coopasonic** » Fri May 14, 2021 9:38 pm

Skinypupy wrote: ↑Fri May 14, 2021 8:12 pm New story just dropped...and it’s a doozy. Got a little bit of everything: MMF threesomes, coke use, sex workers given no show jobs and paid by the government, etc.

So based on that it looks like Gaetz will be our next president.

Kurth · Post by **Kurth** » Fri May 14, 2021 9:41 pm

Just read that article. Wow!

hitbyambulance · Post by **hitbyambulance** » Fri May 14, 2021 9:45 pm

The U.S. Secret Service, which initiated the Greenberg investigation over allegations that Greenberg used county resources to mine Bitcoin

very nicely lays out the mindset we're dealing with here

Holman · Post by **Holman** » Sat May 15, 2021 5:36 pm

Skinypupy wrote: ↑Fri May 14, 2021 8:12 pm New story just dropped...and it’s a doozy. Got a little bit of everything: MMF threesomes, coke use, sex workers given no show jobs and paid by the government, etc.

Paywalled for me. I assume the gist is above, but is there more to it as well?

Holman · Post by **Holman** » Sat May 15, 2021 5:38 pm

Gaetz spoke at a GOP event in Ohio today. Of course he got applause from the hardcore MAGAs, but there were also many walk-outs when he took the stage, and several prominent speakers cancelled when they learned he was on the program.

Trumpian audacity might be harder to pull off than it looks.

Smoove_B · Post by **Smoove_B** » Sat May 15, 2021 5:54 pm

He still has committee assignments though, right? All while the same party (and leadership) had Liz Cheney tossed out out for the crime of speaking up against Trump.

Alefroth · Post by **Alefroth** » Sat May 15, 2021 5:59 pm

I'm confident we can rely on Gaetz for a yes vote for marijuana legalization.

Holman · Post by **Holman** » Sat May 15, 2021 7:45 pm

Alefroth wrote: ↑Sat May 15, 2021 5:59 pm I'm confident we can rely on Gaetz for a yes vote for marijuana legalization.

Not necessarily. Can you imagine the discount that comes with securing a pardon for your dealer?

Zaxxon · Post by **Zaxxon** » Sat May 15, 2021 7:56 pm

Holman wrote: ↑Sat May 15, 2021 5:38 pm Gaetz spoke at a GOP event in Ohio today. Of course he got applause from the hardcore MAGAs, but there were also many walk-outs when he took the stage, and several prominent speakers cancelled when they learned he was on the program.

Trumpian audacity might be harder to pull off than it looks.

Walk-outs; lol. Like, what did they think they were signing up for? Demolishing democracy's ok, but Matt Gaetz is coming? Better GTFO.

Smoove_B · Post by **Smoove_B** » Mon May 17, 2021 12:51 pm

Reuters: JOEL GREENBERG, ASSOCIATE OF REPUBLICAN CONGRESSMAN MATT GAETZ, PLEADS GUILTY TO SEX TRAFFICKING OF 17-YEAR-OLD GIRL, OTHER CRIMES -COURT HEARING

Gaetz still serving on multiple committees.

Isgrimnur · Post by **Isgrimnur** » Mon May 17, 2021 12:53 pm

Reuters: Friend of embattled U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz pleads guilty to sex trafficking

Joel Greenberg, a former tax collector in Florida's Seminole County, pleaded guilty to six charges, including sex-trafficking of a minor, at a court hearing in federal court in Orlando, Florida.
...
Greenberg's lawyer, Fritz Scheller, indicated his client would cooperate if prosecutors sought information from him about Gaetz, telling reporters, "He will honor his plea agreement."

In a document filed in court on Friday, Greenberg said he would cooperate with federal prosecutors and admitted to introducing the minor he trafficked to other adult men who engaged in sex acts with the minor in Greenberg's presence, court papers showed. The papers did not identify the other adult men.

Smoove_B · Post by **Smoove_B** » Mon May 17, 2021 12:57 pm

Thanks

Zaxxon · Post by **Zaxxon** » Mon May 17, 2021 1:02 pm

Smoove_B wrote: ↑Mon May 17, 2021 12:57 pm

Thanks

Carpet_pissr · Post by **Carpet_pissr** » Mon May 17, 2021 1:18 pm

Alefroth wrote:I'm confident we can rely on Gaetz for a yes vote for marijuana legalization.

Perpetually high looking guy? Totally. DeSantis has the same perma-squint. Maybe part of Florida’s atmosphere is made up of pot smoke.