All posts tagged: Gaetz

Gaetz dubs House antisemitism bill a ‘ridiculous hate speech bill’  

Gaetz dubs House antisemitism bill a ‘ridiculous hate speech bill’  

Published by skeptic

Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) labeled the House antisemitism legislation as a “ridiculous hate speech bill” ahead of the vote on Wednesday. The House approved a bill that aims to crack down on antisemitism on college campuses amid ongoing pro-Palestinian protests taking place at U.S. universities across the country. Gaetz voiced his opposition to the bill ahead of the vote, saying that some excerpts of the Bible would meet this bill’s definition of antisemitism. “This evening, I will vote AGAINST the ridiculous hate speech bill called the ‘Antisemitism Awareness Act,’” he wrote on social media platform X. “Antisemitism is wrong, but this legislation is written without regard for the Constitution, common sense, or even the common understanding of the meaning of words. The Gospel itself would meet the definition of antisemitism under the terms of this bill!” he continued. The bill, if enacted, would require the Department of Education to use the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s (IHRA) working definition of antisemitism when enforcing antidiscrimination laws. Gaetz said that one of the examples of IHRA’s definition of …

Matt Gaetz under investigation for 2017 drugs party attended by minor, per sworn statement

Matt Gaetz under investigation for 2017 drugs party attended by minor, per sworn statement

Published by skeptic

The House Ethics Committee is investigating Matt Gaetz’s (R-FL) use of illicit drugs as a member of Congress. The inquiry centers on Gaetz’s presence at a party in Florida in 2017, where numerous illegal substances were allegedly present — backed by a sworn statement from a woman who attended the event. In her statement, she claims that she saw a then-underage girl naked and that the party — attended by other adult men — allegedly had bedrooms “made available for sexual activities.” The Justice Department previously investigated whether Gaetz had slept with the minor, but concluded its investigation in 2023 with no charges. Per a spokesperson for Gaetz, he has no memory of attending such a party as the one mentioned above. Former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy blamed Gaetz earlier this month for his ouster, saying that he lost the role “because one person, a member of Congress, wanted me to stop an ethics complaint because he slept with a 17-year-old” Gaetz, a far-right member of the ‘MAGA Squad’ in the House of Representatives, is part of a cohort that has made congressional …

Kevin McCarthy-Matt Gaetz feud heats up months after the former speaker’s ouster

Kevin McCarthy-Matt Gaetz feud heats up months after the former speaker’s ouster

Published by skeptic

The ever-evolving feud between former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy and Florida GOP Rep. Matt Gaetz continued on Sunday as dueling stories emerged about an alleged offer centering on an House Ethics Committee investigation into Gaetz. Speaking to CBS’ “Face the Nation” on Sunday morning, McCarthy referenced a motion filed last week by Georgia GOP Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene aimed removing House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La. McCarthy, who was voted out of the speakership in October after Gaetz filed a similar motion, gave advice to the Republican conference — and dinged Gaetz. “The one advice I would give to the conference and to the speaker is: Do not be fearful of a motion to vacate,” McCarthy said Sunday. “I do not think they could do it again. That was surely based on Matt Gaetz trying to stop an ethics complaint.” Pressed about his reference to Gaetz, McCarthy elaborated, saying, “It was purely Matt coming to me trying, trying [to get] me to do something illegal to stop the Ethics Committee from moving forward in an investigation …

Matt Gaetz worries House may “end up with a Democrat” speaker after MTG files to oust Mike Johnson

Matt Gaetz worries House may “end up with a Democrat” speaker after MTG files to oust Mike Johnson

Published by skeptic

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., on Friday filed a motion to oust Speaker Mike Johnson as the House voted to avoid a government shutdown, NBC News reports. Greene did not file the motion as privileged, which would force a vote within two days, but could notice it as privileged after the House returns from a two-week recess on April 9. Greene said she filed the motion because Johnson forced a vote on multiple continuing resolutions and funding bills to keep the government running. “This is a betrayal of the American people. This is a betrayal of Republican voters,” Greene told reporters. “I filed the motion to vacate today but it’s more of a warning and a pink slip … I do not wish to inflict pain on our conference and to throw the House in chaos but this is basically a warning and it’s time for us to go through the process, take our time, and find a new speaker of the House,” she said. Raj Shah, a spokesman for Johnson, told NBC News the …

“Look me in the eye”: Hunter Biden turns the tables on Matt Gaetz over question about drug use

“Look me in the eye”: Hunter Biden turns the tables on Matt Gaetz over question about drug use

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The Republican-led House Oversight Committee on Thursday released the full transcript of Hunter Biden’s closed-door testimony that included eyebrow-raising exchanges between Biden and members of the committee. The partially redacted 229-page document “underscores the disconnect” between Republicans’ criminal allegations against Hunter and President Joe Biden and the actual evidence they have, NBC News reported. During the questioning, Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., asked Hunter Biden if he was “on drugs” while serving as a board member of the Ukrainian energy firm Burisma, drawing an objection from Biden’s attorney. “Mr. Gaetz, look me in the eye. You really think that’s appropriate to ask me?” Biden asked Gaetz, according to the transcript. “Absolutely,” Gaetz replied. “Of all the people sitting around this table, do you think that’s appropriate to ask me?” Biden asked. Gaetz has been accused of using drugs at parties by multiple people, including by a Republican senator, which he has denied. “Yeah. Are you going to answer it?” Gaetz pressed Biden during the hearing. “I will answer it this way: I have been absolutely transparent …

Witness told federal investigators she was paid for sex parties with Matt Gaetz: report

Witness told federal investigators she was paid for sex parties with Matt Gaetz: report

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A young woman involved in the sex trafficking investigation around Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., told prosecutors in 2021 that she had sex with the Florida Republican at a party swamped with drugs that she was paid to attend, the woman’s attorney told The Daily Beast. The woman, the attorney added, received payments related to several sex parties with Gaetz’s associates, testified about her experiences to U.S. Attorneys investigating the matter and turned over text messages, photos and other evidence to the DOJ as part of its inquiry into whether the Florida congressman paid for sex with an underage girl.  ABC News reported Wednesday that the House Ethics Committee had obtained text messages between Gaetz and the woman, whom the lawyer told the Daily Beast was older than 21 at the time of the encounters and had stressed to prosecutors the sex was consensual. While the lawyer said committee investigators have not yet approached him, the committee is now reviewing the evidence as part of its probe into Gaetz’s alleged conduct. On Thursday afternoon the lawmakers met privately …

Former Matt Gaetz Associate Is Cooperating in House Investigation: Lawyer

Former Matt Gaetz Associate Is Cooperating in House Investigation: Lawyer

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A chief witness and onetime friend of Representative Matt Gaetz is cooperating in an unfolding House Ethics Committee investigation into whether the Florida politician had sex with an underage girl while in Congress, a lawyer for the witness said Friday. Fritz Scheller, who represents Joel Greenberg, said that he had provided documents to the committee and that Greenberg “has and will cooperate with any congressional request,” The New York Times reported. In May of 2021, Greenberg pled guilty to several charges, including sex trafficking, and is currently in his second year of an 11-year sentence. The former Florida tax collector was able to secure a more lenient punishment by agreeing to cooperate with a Justice Department investigation into Gaetz. In February of 2023, the department announced that it was closing the investigation without charging the Florida Representative with any crimes. At the time of Greenberg’s December 2022 sentencing, Scheller said he was “disappointed” that the department hadn’t charged anyone else, and, though he didn’t name Gaetz, urged prosecutors to “pursue others,” including more “higher-level” figures, …

Matt Gaetz sex trafficking inquiry moves forward with witness cooperation

Matt Gaetz sex trafficking inquiry moves forward with witness cooperation

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In early 2023, a federal investigation looking into claims that Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla. paid or illegally trafficked a 17-year-old girl for sexual purposes while he was serving in Congress seemed to have concluded, with the DOJ opting against any charges. But, with the cooperation of a key witness, the case is picking up again. According to a report from The New York Times on Friday, Gaetz’s former friend and political ally Joel Greenberg — who previously told federal investigators that he had witnessed Gaetz having sex with the girl — has provided documents to the House Ethics Committee regarding the claims. Greenberg is currently serving an 11-year prison sentence, having pleaded guilty in May 2021 to charges including sex trafficking, and is aiding in the inquiry after receiving a request from the committee. If Gaetz is found guilty of similar crimes of his own, he faces a minimum of 10 years in prison. In a statement from Gaetz spokesperson Jillian L. Wyant, she references the submitted documents as being “unreliable,” adding that the news media “should not be laundering smears from people in prison.”     …

Gaetz on failed Mayorkas impeachment vote: ‘Never missed George Santos more’

Gaetz on failed Mayorkas impeachment vote: ‘Never missed George Santos more’

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Following a failed attempt from the House GOP to impeach Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) said that he had “never missed” former Rep. George Santos (R-N.Y.) more after three Republicans joined Democrats to oppose the measure, marking a stunning loss for the party.  Gaetz, one of 112 Republicans who voted against expelling the embattled lawmaker from the House in December, suggested during an appearance on Newsmax’s “The Balance” that with Santos’s vote, the party may have clinched enough needed to bolster their already slim majority.  “As I am watching that board and it’s 215-215, I have never missed George Santos more,” Gaetz told Eric Bolling.  The final 214-216 vote came after Rep. Al Green (D-Texas), who showed up unexpectedly wearing hospital scrubs and no socks, according to NBC, voted against the impeachment. While two GOP defections were expected, there was a third surprise “no” vote from Rep. Mike Gallagher (R-Wis.). The fourth surprise GOP lawmaker to vote against the impeachment came from Rep. Blake Moore (R-Utah), vice chair of the GOP conference, …

Matt Gaetz Told a Friend He Shivved Kevin McCarthy as Revenge for the House Ethics Probe: Report

Matt Gaetz Told a Friend He Shivved Kevin McCarthy as Revenge for the House Ethics Probe: Report

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Matt Gaetz has long maintained that his move last year to oust Kevin McCarthy as Speaker of the House was strictly about a lack of agreement on policy, and absolutely not about getting revenge for a revived Ethics Committee probe related to the Florida lawmaker’s alleged sex trafficking. On the other hand, McCarthy has insisted the probe was why he lost his job, saying in an interview last month: “We all know it’s the ethics complaint on Gaetz. He’s doing everything to make sure it doesn’t come out, and that means he doesn’t care about anything else.” And according to a new report, the former House leader may be onto something. The Daily Beast reports, according to private correspondence it reviewed, “Gaetz indicated to a friend that his effort to undercut, isolate, and ultimately remove McCarthy was, indeed, payback for the ethics probe.” According to the outlet, “in the communications, Gaetz singled out McCarthy individually for reviving an Ethics Committee probe against him, and he indicated that his animus toward McCarthy was over that investigation.” …