For Donald Trump it is all about loyalty, and Florida congressman Matt Gaetz is a Trump loyalist. Trump said he wanted to use the presidency to go after his enemies. It looks like he really meant it. Gaetz once said he wanted to “dish out pain” on his political enemies. Elon Musk just tweeted: “The hammer of justice is coming.”
Who is Matt Gaetz? Here is a June 2024 statement from the House Committee on Ethics. The bold is mine:
On April 9, 2021, the Committee announced it had initiated a review into allegations that Representative Matt Gaetz may have engaged in sexual misconduct and/or illicit drug use, shared inappropriate images or videos on the House floor, misused state identification records, converted campaign funds to personal use, and/or accepted a bribe, improper gratuity, or impermissible gift, in violation of House Rules, laws, or other standards of conduct. The Committee deferred its consideration of the matter in response to a request from the Department of Justice (DOJ). In May 2023, the Committee reauthorized its investigation after DOJ withdrew its deferral request.
There has been a significant and unusual amount of public reporting on the Committee’s activities this Congress. Much of that reporting has been inaccurate. The Committee’s investigations are conducted confidentially, but the Committee’s confidentiality rules do not prohibit witnesses from disclosing information about the Committee’s requests or conversations with Committee investigators. The Committee is confident in the integrity of its process.
Representative Gaetz has categorically denied all of the allegations before the Committee. Notwithstanding the difficulty in obtaining relevant information from Representative Gaetz and others, the Committee has spoken with more than a dozen witnesses, issued 25 subpoenas, and reviewed thousands of pages of documents in this matter. Based on its review to date, the Committee has determined that certain of the allegations merit continued review. During the course of its investigation, the Committee has also identified additional allegations that merit review.
Accordingly, the Committee is reviewing allegations pursuant to Committee Rules 14(a)(3) and 18(a) that Representative Gaetz may have: engaged in sexual misconduct and illicit drug use, accepted improper gifts, dispensed special privileges and favors to individuals with whom he had a personal relationship, and sought to obstruct government investigations of his conduct. The Committee will take no further action at this time on the allegations that he may have shared inappropriate images or videos on the House floor, misused state identification records, converted campaign funds to personal use, and/or accepted a bribe or improper gratuity.
The Committee notes that the mere fact of an investigation into these allegations does not itself indicate that any violation has occurred. No other public comment will be made on this matter except in accordance with Committee rules.
So let’s get this clear. The House Ethics Committee is no longer investigating Gaetz for “shared inappropriate images or videos on the House floor, misused state identification records, converted campaign funds to personal use, and/or accepted a bribe or improper gratuity.” But the House Ethics Committee is still investigating Gaetz on “sexual misconduct and illicit drug use, accepted improper gifts, dispensed special privileges and favors to individuals with whom he had a personal relationship, and sought to obstruct government investigations of his conduct.”
Now he may be the attorney general of the United States. I guess we shouldn’t be surprised that a president with 34 felonies nominated him. But hey, this is the guy people wanted on November 5.
Here is how we have covered Gaetz over the years:
Remember when Mike Rogers and Gaetz got into a near fight on the floor of the Congress?
During the debate for House speaker in 2023, Gaetz said he would resign from the House of Representatives if a “moderate Republicans” was chosen.
In June 2022, a reporter asked Gaetz if he believed women at abortion rallies are “ugly and overweight.” Gaetz answered, “Yes.” When the reporter asked him what he would say to people who were offended by his comment, Gaetz said “be offended.”
Gaetz was one of 18 members of the House to vote against Finland and Sweden joining NATO.
Back in May 2021, Gaetz wrongly said that the Second Amendment was about “maintaining within the citizenry the ability to maintain an armed rebellion against the government.”
Back in April 2021, we covered Gaetz’s Christian beliefs.
December 2021: Gaetz announced that he wanted to dish out pain to the left.
Here is Gaetz in Wyoming talking about Liz Cheney:
In March, 2021, there were rumors that Gaetz was going to leave the House and take a job as a commentator on the right-wing cable network Newsmax.
Remember when Matt Gaetz wore a gas mask to mock mask-wearing during COVID while one his constituents was dying from the virus?
I am expecting a Marjorie Taylor Greene or Lauren Boebert appointment to a cabinet post in the coming days.
This confirmation hearing is going to be a real doozy.
We will have the evangelical response, if any, to the Gaetz appointment in tomorrow’s roundup. Stay tuned.