Matt Gaetz's ex-girlfriend testifies to grand jury in sex trafficking probe

[demmiblue]

Source: NBC News

ORLANDO, Fla. — Rep. Matt Gaetz’s ex-girlfriend gave testimony Wednesday to a federal grand jury investigating him for sex crimes, a major development that suggests the Department of Justice may be moving closer to indicting him.

The ex-girlfriend, whose name is being withheld by NBC News to respect her privacy, has been in talks for months with prosecutors to receive an immunity deal. Under a possible deal, she would avoid prosecution for obstruction of justice in return for testifying in an investigation into whether Gaetz in 2017 had sex with a 17-year-old female for money and whether months later he and others violated a federal law prohibiting people for paying for prostitutes overseas.

Legal sources familiar with the case say Gaetz is being investigated for three distinct crimes: Sex trafficking the 17-year-old; violating the Mann Act, which prohibits taking prostitutes across state lines; and obstructing justice.

Gaetz, R-Fla., has never been charged with any crime and has denied all accusations, saying he never paid for sex and never had sex with a minor when he was an adult. The firebrand conservative has called the federal investigation into him a DOJ “witch hunt.”

Read more: https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/justice-department/matt-gaetz-s-ex-girlfriend-testifies-grand-jury-sex-trafficking-n1287352

[Effete Snob]

1. I was told it is not possible to know if the DoJ is investigating something

[NurseJackie]

11. I suppose it all depends on how tightly guarded everyone is regarding leaks and other...

... unauthorized, unsourced, off-the-record "confidential sources" there are. It would also depend on whether some leaks are intentional for strategic reasons. But I think that generally speaking and in the vast majority of the time, the information that you'd previously received is good and accurate.

[Effete Snob]

17. The thing is...

People who are brought in to testify to the grand jury, or who are the subject of search warrants, have no obligation not to speak about it.

We know that his ex girlfriend is being questioned, because his ex girlfriend can SAY she was questioned.

That's true of witnesses in any investigation. That's how you can know if an investigation is going on.

[joshcryer]

21. It's nearly impossible to keep details like this secret...

...the DoJ just sits and waits. They caught the ex girlfriend in a lie, therefore pressured her on an obstruction charge, so she complies with testifying with information they already know. She is likely a character witness to the things Gaetz would do so that the DoJ can build a narrative of Gaetz paying girls in goods and jewelry to travel and have sex.

[Traildogbob]

2. He will be fine

Marginal Trailer Queen will visit him daily in jail, a advocate for him to get 5 star chef meals and Egyptian Cotten sheets while serving time. Bang Bang Barbie will bring take out from her diarrhea inducing menus at her ratty bar. He may hear voices from Epstein behind bars, and need to worry about the Barrs, trumps etc, that have another use for this Cotten sheets.

[calimary]

6. Ooooh! Marginal Trailer Queen!

Dayum, that’s a good one!

[Traildogbob]

9. She fits

The title.

[XacerbatedDem]

24. LMAO!!!

[keithbvadu2]

3. Gaetz: I use Venmo for all my minor purchases.

[SpankMe]

4. The Matt Gaetz story has been floating around for almost 2 years

It's time to indict and try, or let it go. If the gov't hasn't indicted by now, then I wonder if they really have anything significant on him.

I'm disappointed overall with the slow and soft pace of DoJ action against Gates and the 1-6 insurrectionist organizer/instigators. It is my hope that they delays are simply that they're waiting until we're closer to the 2022 mid-terms before really dropping the hammer in order to make as much anti-R noise as possible in the run-up to the election.

The more assholic the Republicans get, the more they seem to win. We Dems need to up our asshole game.

[Ford_Prefect]

7. The reasons for the delay most likely are that there are even bigger fish yet to be fried.

There have been suggestions that Gaetz and his buddy were part of a large and well coordinated network of abusers whose members include some GOP high and mighty in Florida and DC. Such a network would take time to verify and track down.

IMO Gaetz is still out there as a stalking horse giving others in the network a false sense of security. There is reason to think he may have ties to the insurrectionists as well.

[gab13by13]

12. His pal Greenberg

asked the court to delay his sentencing so he could provide more evidence to get a lighter sentence. I am an impatient person but I have no problem with this delay.

[AnotherMother4Peace]

13. Trafficking & sex abuse of children/a child by a pedophile needs to be pursued.

Apparently the DOJ does not feel "It's time to indict and try, or let it go". They are well aware of timeliness issues, and apparently are taking the sexual abuse and trafficking of children seriously. Recent crimes that "happened so long ago" and thereby should be ignored is outrageous.

[Effete Snob]

22. 18 USC 3282 sets an outer limit on most federal criminal prosecutions

https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/18/3282

Except as otherwise expressly provided by law, no person shall be prosecuted, tried, or punished for any offense, not capital, unless the indictment is found or the information is instituted within five years next after such offense shall have been committed.

[Moebym]

16. Expecting the Justice Department to work at the speed we'd like

Is unrealistic no matter who is at the helm. It'd have been the same way if Sally Yates, Doug Jones, Preet Bharara or anyone else were AG instead of Garland.

[H2O Man]

5. Recommended.

The Mann Act covers more than bringing a prostitute across state lines. It includes crossing state lines"for the purpose of prostitution or debauchery, or for any other immoral purposes." The law was made to convict the first black heavyweight boxing champion, Jack Johnson, for traveling with white women. With Gaetz, it will include the paid sex, crossing state lines, and involving a minor. Couldn't happen to a more deserving guy!

[TeamProg]

8. Ha Ha!

[L. Coyote]

10. "Witch hunt" is Republican for "I plead guilty"

at least if one adheres to the science of statistics.

[calimary]

25. Yeah, no kidding.

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

14. What a guy

[LetMyPeopleVote]

15. There is no way this is good news for Gaetz

Link to tweet

[KS Toronado]

18. Repugs don't care if their own kind screw underage girls,

sex traffic them or pay for their abortions.

[Ferryboat]

19. Yesterday someone pointed out that if Bevis and Butthead existed as one person

He would look like Matt Gaetz. He is right.

[Javaman]

20. she got an immunity deal.

he's fucked.

[monkeyman1]

23. not like is going to be!!