Summary

The House Ethics Committee found “substantial evidence” that former GOP congressman Matt Gaetz engaged in statutory rape, prostitution, drug use, and obstruction of Congress.

The report alleges Gaetz paid a 17-year-old for sex in 2017. Gaetz denies the claims, citing no criminal charges from a prior DOJ investigation.

He filed for a restraining order to block the report’s release, calling it “unprecedented overreach.”

Despite GOP resistance, the bipartisan committee voted to publish the findings after a four-year probe into alleged misconduct, including payments tied to drug-fueled sex parties.

    • ditty@lemm.ee
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      3 days ago

      Even if he doesn’t serve time, I’d like to think he’ll never hold an elected office ever again now at least

      • Heikki@lemm.ee
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        3 days ago

        I think sexual misconduct with a minor is a prerequisite for a GOP cantidate, especially in FL. I am sure some have been grandfathered into the GOP prior to this unwritten rule being implemented.

        • rational_lib@lemmy.world
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          2 days ago

          Trump is an actual reality TV star though. He’s one of the most skilled people on Earth at appealing to low-effort thinkers. Others like him in the crime/depravity department (Herschel Walker, George Santos) haven’t done as well electorally.

      • Eldritch@lemmy.world
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        3 days ago

        The Republicans named their favorite house rule after a pedophilic former speaker of the house. They just re elected a convinced rapist and con man. I don’t have your confidence.

      • EleventhHour@lemmy.world
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        3 days ago

        I do not consider him making several million dollars a year at GOP speaking engagements and hosting Fox News to be considered “justice“.

      • kent_eh@lemmy.ca
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        3 days ago

        There was a time when I would believe that could happen.

        These days, being a criminal (and personally loyal to Trump) seems to be a pre-requisite for being appointed to a cabinet position.

  • Xatolos@reddthat.com
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    3 days ago

    Wow, with a glowing record like that, it’s no wonder Trump wanted him for the Attorney General.

    • pyre@lemmy.world
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      3 days ago

      you might think of course they’re so similar but apparently he was actually not entirely sure about the pick at first because gaetz wasn’t trying to fuck his own daughter, but then he thought close enough.

    • T00l_shed@lemmy.world
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      3 days ago

      Exactly, that’s what I’ve been saying too! All of this will just make his base more enamored with him.

  • floofloof@lemmy.ca
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    3 days ago

    I suspect some MAGA voters view raping kids as just a manly thing to do.

  • Dem Bosain@midwest.social
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    3 days ago

    This isn’t news to anybody that’s been paying attention. I want to hear comments from every single one of his associates in Congress that either denied the allegations on his behalf, defended him against the allegations, or voted against releasing this report. I want to know why they were ‘in the dark’ when people across the country outside Congress knew he was guilty.

    On a side note, I’d also like to hear from Google as to why their shitty AI pops up on every single internet search, except when I ask for a list of people that have defended Matt Gaetz over the years. It doesn’t even give up Marjorie Taylor Greene.

  • Optional@lemmy.world
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    3 days ago

    Matt Gaetz ethics report finds ‘substantial evidence’ he participated in statutory rape, prostitution

    And drugs and witness tampering and obstruction of Congress and being gross and skeezy

  • octopus_ink@lemmy.ml
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    3 days ago

    So IOW they just released this to allow him to favorably pad his cv for his new job at OANN.

  • whotookkarl@lemmy.world
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    3 days ago

    Not enforcing the law is the same as not having the law, the term is decriminalization. Not enforcing the law sets precedence for others to ignore the same law because otherwise you’re setting a double standard. If you don’t hold that person or people accountable then more people will see the same actions as decriminalized. Literally excusing statutory rape is insane, and if the governing bodies writing and enforcing the law won’t do something I’m not surprised some individuals will consider alternate methods to law enforcement.

    • modifier@lemmy.ca
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      3 days ago

      You kid but let’s not be hasty. Used to be a Republican considering a run for president would, like a Democrat, publish a memoir to start generating interest and chatter about a campaign. For a modern Republican, an underage sex scandal fills a similar function and you don’t have to pay ghost writers.