Dem
47
GOP
53
"Tell me something I don't know," you're saying. No, no, we're not making a general judgment about the former representative (accurate as it might be); we are talking about his battle to keep the House Ethics Committee report under wraps. Previously, the Committee members voted not to release it. But yesterday, they changed course. Barring the unexpected, it will be released sometime this week, perhaps as early as today.
Gaetz responded to this news by firing up his eX-Twitter account to post this:
The Biden/Garland DOJ spent years reviewing allegations that I committed various crimes.
I was charged with nothing: FULLY EXONERATED. Not even a campaign finance violation. And the people investigating me hated me.
Then, the very "witnesses" DOJ deemed not-credible were assembled by House Ethics to repeat their claims absent any cross-examination or challenge from me or my attorneys. I've had no chance to ever confront any accusers. I've never been charged. I've never been sued.
Instead, House Ethics will reportedly post a report online that I have no opportunity to debate or rebut as a former member of the body.
In my single days, I often sent funds to women I dated—even some I never dated but who asked. I dated several of these women for years. I NEVER had sexual contact with someone under 18. Any claim that I have would be destroyed in court—which is why no such claim was ever made in court.
My 30's were an era of working very hard—and playing hard too.
It's embarrassing, though not criminal, that I probably partied, womanized, drank and smoked more than I should have earlier in life. I live a different life now.
But at least I didn't vote for CR's that fuck over the country!
As a reminder, when a politician says or writes something publicly, we don't censor it.
We must admit that when we saw this "defense," we were reminded of students who are accused of cheating on an online quiz and, instead of pleading innocence, ask "Well, which questions do you think I cheated on, exactly?" That does not help the student's case. Similarly, once the report is released, it's clearly going to include information that strongly indicates: (1) hiring of many prostitutes, and (2) sex with underage women. These things were already rumored, and Gaetz' response pretty much seals the deal.
Since the House Ethics Committee conducts all of its business in secret, particularly its votes, nobody beyond the Committee members knows why they changed their minds. What we can say is that there are five Republicans and five Democrats, and they previously deadlocked on releasing the report. So, the likeliest explanation is that one of the five Republicans flipped, for reasons known only to them. In any event, the would-be Florida governor is about to have his dirty laundry aired in a very public fashion. (Z)