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Former Florida Congressman Matt Gaetz nominated by Donald Trump Becoming the new attorney general. In his announcement via Truth Social on Nov. 13, 2024, the president-elect called Gaetz an “extremely talented and driven attorney” who was “educated at the William & Mary College of Law.” Trump claimed that the AG selection would “end weaponized government, protect our borders, dismantle criminal organizations, and restore America’s badly shattered faith and trust in the justice department.”

Previously, Gaetz was accused of having sexual intercourse with a 17-year-old girl and paying for her travel expenses. New York Times first reported in March 2021. The age of sexual consent in Florida is 18. At the time, the Justice Department was investigating whether Gaetz violated sex trafficking laws.

However, Gaetz strongly denied all the allegations in his statement. In the news of Fox News tucker carlson Calling it his “weirdest interview ever,” Gaetz claimed at the time that the allegations were part of an ongoing effort to blackmail him and his family. “Over the past several weeks, my family and I have been victims of an organized criminal racket in which a former Justice Department official demanded $25 million while threatening to smear my name… I demand that the Department of Justice immediately release the incriminating tapes prepared at their direction. “My former colleague committed a crime against me based on false allegations,” he said.

“I did not have a relationship with a 17-year-old,” Gaetz said. Tucker Carlson Tonight report. “This is completely wrong. The claim is that I read about it in the newspaper. New York TimesI traveled in a relationship with a 17 year old girl. This is false and the record will reveal it to be false. It is not a crime to provide flights and hotel rooms to people you are dating who are of legal age… People were talking about an underage child and having photos of me with child prostitutes. This is absolutely wrong. “There will be no such photo because nothing like this happened.”

Matt Gaetz swore to Tucker Carlson that he “didn’t travel” with a 17-year-old, but his denial seems pretty specific and carefully worded pic.twitter.com/emGePJeVfV

— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) March 31, 2021

His father, a former president of the Florida State Senate, Donald Gaetz“He even wears wires under the orders of the FBI to catch these criminals.” Gaetz, the former Justice Department official mentioned, was a lawyer David McGeeDenies involvement in the investigation or attempts to forcibly return the family Washington Post. McGee confirmed that Donald Gaetz reached out to him to discuss an issue he declined to disclose.

Multiple sources said Gaetz gained a reputation for bragging about his sexual exploits when he came to Congress in 2017. CNN. Sources claimed that Gatz showed other lawmakers (including the House floor) the photos and videos of naked women he kept on his phone and slept with. Sources, including two people who allegedly showed sexually explicit material, told CNN that Gaetz also described having sex with women.

Gaetz could be sued Mann’s LawIt prohibits bringing anyone across state lines “for the purpose of engaging in prostitution or any sexual activity for which any person may be charged with a criminal offense.” The investigation was opened in 2020 under President Trump’s administration. Gaetz said axios“The allegations against me are as damaging as they are unfounded. “I believe there were people in the Department of Justice who were trying to criminalize my sexual behavior, you know, I was a single man.”

However, the Justice Department completed its investigation and did not charge Gaetz with any crime.

Here’s what else you need to know about Gaetz:

Gaetz was also investigated for allegedly paying women for sex online

The Justice Department’s investigation centers on Gaetz’s alleged involvement with “multiple women who were recruited for online sex and received cash payments.” New York Times It was reported on April 1. Investigators believe this Joel GreenbergA former tax collector in Florida who was indicted on federal sex trafficking charges in 2020, he met the women on websites where women went on dates in exchange for gifts and money, sources told the newspaper. Investigators allege Greenberg introduced the women to Gaetz, who allegedly had sex with them. Gaetz has denied paying a woman for sex.

New York Times He claims they reviewed Cash App and Apple Pay receipts that showed money sent by Gaetz and Greenberg to one of the women and from Greenberg to another woman. Gaetz and Greenberg allegedly told the women to meet them at hotels and other locations in Florida throughout 2019 and 2020. One woman told the newspaper that Gaetz and Greenberg sometimes paid her in cash.

Gaetz Once Claimed That Not All Capitol Attacks Were Trump Supporters

Gaetz falsely claimed to be Antifa members and Negative All Trump supporters who put US Capitol siege On January 6, 2021, he said: “Some of those who breached the Capitol today were not Trump supporters. “They appeared to be Trump supporters and were actually members of the violent terrorist organization Antifa.” “boo” tours During a speech on the House floor early the next morning. Gaetz was flagged by Twitter for “glorifying violence” after he posted an ugly nationwide tweet on June 1, 2020. george floyd Police asked, “Now that we clearly see Antifa as terrorists, can we capture them like those in the Middle East?” He protested by writing:

Gaetz has represented Florida’s 1st congressional district since 2016 and has been re-elected twice since then. He is a member of the House Freedom Caucus and sits on the following committees: Committee on Armed Services, Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, Subcommittee on Tactical Air and Ground Forces, Committee on the Budget, Committee on the Judiciary, Subcommittee on Courts, Intellectual Property and the Internet, Regulatory Reform, Commerce and Antitrust Law Subcommittee. He has not been removed from any committees since news of the Justice Department investigation broke.

Voted ‘No’ to the Anti-Human Trafficking Bill

Gaetz was the only Representative to vote “no” on the Combating Trafficking in Commercial Vehicles Act in 2017. The bill allocates additional government resources to combat human trafficking in the United States. Gaetz said on Facebook Live He said he opposed the bill because it represented the federal government’s “mandate creep.” “Unless there is an overwhelming and compelling reason why our current institutions of the federal government cannot solve this problem, I am voting no because the voters in Northwest Florida did not send me to Washington to create more federal government,” Gaetz said.

Became a staunch supporter of Donald Trump

Gaetz has distanced himself from his colleagues in Congress over his fervent support for Trump. Throughout Trump’s presidency, Gaetz was constantly parroting Trump’s rhetoric on Fox News and OAN. When Trump called Haiti “shithole country” Gaetz backed her in 2018, tweeting: “Conditions in Haiti are deplorable, disgusting. I mean, everywhere you look in Haiti, there’s sheet metal and trash.” Gaetz was so loyal to Trump that he even said: would resign House seat to represent Trump in his second impeachment trial if asked to join his legal team.

Gaetz Was Part of the #FreeBritney Movement

Britney Spears He found an unlikely ally in Gaetz. The congressman asked the Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee in March Jerry Nadler (D-NY) hosted a televised investigation into the legal process of conservatorships and specifically mentioned the “Toxic” singer in his letter. In his letter, Gaetz touched on many points of contention in the documentary. Framing Britney SpearsIncluding how her father had and maintained control over Britney’s life. conservatorship.

“The facts and circumstances leading to this arrangement remain disputed, but involve questionable motives and legal tactics by the father and current guardian. Jamie Spears” wrote Gaetz later he tweeted On March 9, he wrote, “I think @Britneyspears would be a great witness before the House Judiciary Committee. He will probably have a lot to say about conservatorship. #FreeBritney”