Donald Trump, October 10, 2016: "This just came out. WikiLeaks! I love WikiLeaks!"
Karma:"Unknown and unauthorized third party" has gained access to Matt Gaetz depositions, source says November 19, 2024 / 2:48 PM EST
... The leaked materials are part of a civil defamation case filed by Chris Dorworth, a lobbyist who is close to Gaetz. These materials include the sworn deposition of the minor with whom Gaetz allegedly had sex.
According to a source familiar with the matter and an email viewed by CBS News, the person who gained access went by the name "Altam Beezley." ...
A lawyer for two women who spoke with the Ethics Committee told CBS News on Monday that they testified that Gaetz paid them directly and repeatedly for sex, and said Venmo transactions for the encounters were obtained by the panel.
The attorney, Joel Leppard, also said the women told House investigators that Gaetz asked about "party favors" and "vitamins" at upcoming parties via text messages, which was understood to be code for drugs. One of Leppard's clients testified before the Ethics Committee that she witnessed Gaetz having sex with a 17-year-old against a game table during a July 2017 party, months after he was sworn in as a House member.
@SumKindaMunster But, that aside, I find it distressing that so many of our elected officials have such scandals attached - surely, we can find people that we can hold in a higher regard. But, I fear this is not a cross section of society as a whole.
I think one reason W Bush was elected was a reaction to Clinton's private affairs. Bush seemed so much more "regular" in that regard. Clinton should have been derailed by Gennifer Flowers and Paula Jones, but the average voter thought GHW Bush and his failed "Read My Lips" promise was more important. So, less than 50% of the USA normalized Clinton's behavior.
My point about Gaetz is that the USA doesn't have to accept someone like that, but it seems like hyper partisanship and retribution tours will assure us of failure. Honestly speaking, do you really think there is nobody better for the job?
@trollslayer I've learned in the last 10-15 years to withhold judgement on any "scandal" that envelopes a nominee for a political post. It doesn't seem to matter what the truth is, rather what people will believe. Both accusations of racism, and now unfortunately, sexual impropriety must be taken with a large grain of salt.
It seems pretty apparent that the press will leak any sort of innuendo regardless of how plausible it actually is. To me, this is why you have to look at the behavior. As previously stated, Gaetz was widely disliked by the Neocons and RINOs in congress for some of his "extreme" behavior like not backing swamp rat Kevin McCarthy. I truly think that IF they had the evidence to plausibly charge Gaetz, it would have already happened.
Honestly speaking, do you really think there is nobody better for the job?
Almost certainly, but I think the value here with Gaetz is he is a true believer, and has shown himself to be unafraid to take on the swamp. I think a lot of people are not happy with this nomination because of what they believe he will do, not what they say he did.
