Like most red-blooded 38-year-olds, Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fl.) finds himself the subject of a tabloid witch-hunt accusing of sex with an unnamed 17-year-old female with whom he and his buddy, 36-tear-old Seminole County tax collector Joel Greenberg, got involved. In a handwritten letter to pardoned Trump associate Roger Stone, Greenberg allegedly revealed that he and Gaetz has sex with the girl at age 17 when they were both told she was 19. “From time to time, gas money or gifts, rent or partial tuition payments were made to several of these girls, including the individual who was no the 18,” Greenberg wrote Stone, possibly seeking a presidential pardon. “I did see the acts firsthand and Venmo transactions, Cash App or other payments were made to these girls on behalf of the Congressman,” said Greenberg’s note. Greenberg was concerned that he broke federal sex trafficking laws.
Justice Department officials are looking into whether Gaetz and Greenberg engaged in prostitution with underage minors, leaving him vulnerable to breaking interstate sex trafficking laws. Gaetz denied that he did anything wrong or broke any laws but Greenberg’s alleged letter to Stone would suggest otherwise. There’s a big difference paying for sex or hanging out with a group of girls with whom Gaetz and Greenberg gave some generous gifts, just because they felt like it. Payment for sex like what happens in certain types of massage parlors around the country is strictly prohibitive with current sex trafficking laws. But hanging out with friends, giving them some cash or gifts does not cross the line as payments for sex. All the young women involved with Gaetz and Greenberg were not sex workers. Pursuing Gaetz and Greenberg is a long-shot by the Justice Department.
Once Trump’s biggest fan, Gaetz has been clearly targeted by the Justice Department led by newly minted Atty. Gen. Merrick Garland. Biden administration officials see Gaetz and 42-year-old Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis as potential rivals in 2024 Both have media appeal but Gaetz has the special something that could be honed into a viable presidential candidate. Sucking Gaetz into a prostitution or sex-trafficking scandal is the best way Democrats and the press can destroy his political future. Whether Gaetz or Greenberg had sex with a willing 17-year-old does not mean he broke the law, especially if she misrepresented her age. None of the women involved with Gaetz or Greenberg claim anything untoward, including the 17-year-old. What’s at stake is whether the Justice Department with certain payment records can make a case for prostitution or sex trafficking.
Courts have ruled across the country that consensual sex with 17-year-old does not fit the definition of statuary rape, nor does paying for hotel rooms, gifts, tuition or anything else constitution payment for sex. Justice Department’s probe focuses on whether or not Gaetz paid for sex, something highly ambiguous when it comes to ordinary relations between men and women.. If a man involved sexually with a women pays for her dinner, hotel room, diamond ring, how different it that for someone making a deposit into a PayPay or Venmo account? Where is the line crossed when the DOJ can charge with sex trafficking or prostitution? Greenberg was indicted last summer on sex-trafficking, now singing like a canary with prosecutors against Gaetz. While no one knows where Greenberg’s indictment ends up, penning a letter to Roger Stone seeking a possible presidential pardon raises red flags.
Federal prosecutors don’t have an open-and-shut case against Greenberg, with-or-without a plea deal. He can’t really rat Gaetz out because the issue of a 17-year-old is not really relevant because the age-of-consent is 17-year-old in most states, not 18. At the same time, PayPal or Venmo receipts don’t really say anything because no one can stop two consenting adults from giving gifts of any kind. There’s more scrutiny of U.S. Congressmen-or-women or Senators taking gifts from foreign leaders or lobbying groups than giving gifts to real people. “From time to time, gas money or gifts, rent or partial tuition payments were made to several of these girls, including the individual who was not 18 yet. I did see acts occur firsthand and Venmo transactions, Cash App or other payments were made to these girls on behalf of the congressman,” Greenberg wrote in his note to Stone.
Justice Department officials look like they’ve got Gaetz on the run, much like they did with Greenberg, but, when you look at the facts, it’s called “bro culture,” with young men, in elected positions chasing young women willing to have some fun. “If I get you $250K in Bitcoin would that help or is this not a financial matter,” Greenberg asked Stone. “I understand all of this and have take it into consideration,” Stone said to Greenberg. “I will know more in the next 24 hours. I cannot push too hard because of the nonsense surrounding pardons,” Stone said. Whether Greenberg tried to pay his way out of the DOJ’s charges that doesn’t automatically mean they have a case against Gaetz. DOJ officials still have to show that Gaetz knowingly paid for sex, something highly dubious at this point. Gaetz dismissed Greenberg’s letter to Roger Stone as just more fake news from the corrupt media.
