See You In Court -- Republican Crime Roundup

 

The heat on pervy Trumpist asshole Rep. Matt "Gaetzgate" Gaetz (R- Junior Prom) is reaching the point where it could combust his hair product:

Federal authorities investigating alleged sex trafficking by GOP Rep. Matt Gaetz have secured the cooperation of the congressman's ex-girlfriend, according to people familiar with the matter.

The woman, a former Capitol Hill staffer, is seen as a critical witness, as she has been linked to Gaetz as far back as the summer of 2017, a period of time that has emerged as a key window of scrutiny for investigators. She can also help investigators understand the relevance of hundreds of transactions they have obtained records of, including those involving alleged payments for sex, the sources said.

News of the woman's willingness to talk, which has not been previously reported, comes just days after the Justice Department formally entered into a plea agreement with Joel Greenberg, a one-time close friend of Gaetz whose entanglement with young women first drew the congressman onto investigators' radar.

Speaking of underage sex, 

Wyoming state Sen. Anthony Bouchard, a Republican trying to unseat U.S. Rep. Liz Cheney next year, revealed that he impregnated a 14-year-old girl when he was 18, describing the relationship as “like the Romeo and Juliet” story in a description that drew a rebuke from a sexual assault prevention group.

Bouchard vowed not to drop out of the race and blamed "dirty politics” for bringing the story to light.

Bouchard, 55, initially disclosed what he described as a typical teenage relationship in a Facebook Live video to supporters on Thursday. He later confirmed the girl's age to the Casper Star-Tribune.

“It’s a story when I was young, two teenagers, girl gets pregnant,” he said in the video. “You’ve heard those stories before. She was a little younger than me, so it’s like the Romeo and Juliet story.”

Bouchard married the girl when she was 15 and he was 19, when both were living in Florida. They divorced three years later, he told the newspaper. She killed herself when she was 20, Bouchard said.

Just like Romeo and Juliet, but Bouchard didn't fulfill his part of this totes romantic story.

Finally, on top of the former guy's manifold legal problems, add this:

The Chinese American Civil Rights Coalition has sued former President Donald Trump for his attacks on China and his Asian slurs, accusing him of sparking a spike in violence against Asian Americans.

“Defendant’s extreme and outrageous conduct indeed has caused members of the Plaintiff organization, and to a large extent Asian Americans, emotional distress, and resulted in an unmistakable rising up trend of racial violence against Chinese Americans and Asian Americans from New York to California,” said the federal suit, filed Thursday in the Southern District of New York by the nonprofit civil rights group.

It seeks $1 for each American of Asian or Pacific Island heritage, which would amount to about $22.9 million in damages.

All together now:  Lock them up!  Lock them up!

GaetzGate Takes Another Hit (Blow?)

 

 

It may take a little while, but arch Trump supporter and defense lawyers' nightmare Rep. Matt Gaetz (R- Perv) is going down.  The Daily Beast has the latest scoop on Gaetz's potential legal peril stemming from a relationship with an escort cum spokesperson for a medical marijuana association who apparently never showed up for work:

When Rep. Matt Gaetz attended a 2019 GOP fundraiser in Orlando, his date that night was someone he knew well: a paid escort and amateur Instagram model who led a cocaine-fueled party after the event, according to two witnesses.

The Florida congressman’s one-time wingman, Joel Greenberg, will identify that escort to investigators as one of more than 15 young women Gaetz paid for sex, according to a source familiar with the investigation. 

But what distinguishes this woman, Megan Zalonka, is that she turned her relationship with Greenberg into a taxpayer-funded no-show job that earned her an estimated $7,000 to $17,500, according to three sources and corresponding government records obtained by The Daily Beast.  [snip]

On Oct. 26, 2019, Gaetz attended the “Trump Defender Gala” fundraiser as the featured speaker at the Westgate Lake Resort in Orlando. Two witnesses present recalled friends reconvening at Gaetz’s hotel room for an after-party, where Zalonka prepared lines of cocaine on the bathroom counter. One of those witnesses distinctly remembers Zalonka pulling the drugs out of her makeup bag, rolling a bill of cash, and joining Gaetz in snorting the cocaine.  [snip]

About that "no show" job:

Zalonka’s interactions with Greenberg’s circle extended to Gaetz as well. In mid-2018, Zalonka became a spokesperson for the American Medical Marijuana Physicians Association (AMMPA), a cannabis legalization group with close ties to Gaetz. The congressman was feted as a guest of honor at two of its conferences in 2018, and attended the previous year’s annual conference in October. The 2017 conference, which Greenberg also attended, featured Republican operative and Trump loyalist Roger Stone, who appeared at a Gaetz fundraiser after the congressman’s keynote speech. That day, Oct. 5, Greenberg used Venmo to send Zalonka $500 around midday—for “Rent.”  [snip]

Investigators with the Justice Department’s Public Integrity division are now examining Gaetz’s interactions with young women and cannabis industry contacts, CNN reported, as part of a probe into whether Gaetz was provided with sex from escorts in exchange for political favors. The sprawling criminal inquiry that originated with Greenberg has since morphed into an investigation into Gaetz’s role in an alleged prostitution ring that includes potential sex crimes with a 17-year-old girl. 

Gaetz has the entitled arrogance of someone who's always been rescued from his mistakes and never had to really work for a living (thanks to his wealthy, connected daddy), and yet did very well considering his "limitations."  As such, he didn't seem to be very concerned about his actions or covering possible illegal activities, figuring he would always find a way out of his problems.  That arrogance, combined with the cooperation of Gaetz wingman Greenberg and corroborating testimony expected from eyewitnesses, may be more than enough to see that this particular sleazebag spends a long, long time in the slammer.  Fingers crossed. 

(Photo:  =snif= snif=  / Drew Angerer, Getty Images)

Republican Crime Blotter -- Missouri Molester (Allegedly!)

Our Republican crime blotter today has Missouri (the "Show Me" state!) on its radar today, with some allegations that low- IQAnon sleuths should definitely look into (even though the accused isn't Hillary Clinton or Joe Biden, or any Democrat for that matter):

On Tuesday, KSHB reported that Missouri state Rep. Rick Roeber has submitted his resignation, effective Friday.

Roeber, who ran to replace his deceased wife in the state House in 2020, was embroiled in controversy when his adult children came forward during the election with graphic details of physical and sexual assault at his hands. He was elected anyway, but his children made a plea to now-GOP state House Speaker Rob Vescovo to prevent him from being seated. Roeber was banned from the GOP House caucus pending an ethics investigation.

According to the report, Roeber did not cite the assault and molestation allegations as the reason for his departure.

"He said he needs to move out of state to be closer to family and cited that as the reason for his departure from the Legislature," reported Summer Ballentine. "He also said he has accomplished his only legislative goals: voting on education bills and memorializing his late wife, former Republican Rep. Rebecca Roeber."  (our emphasis)

"He was elected anyway... "  Those Republicans in Missouri are certainly a tolerant bunch, as long as the candidate has an "R" by his/her name on the ballot. (Note to Matt Gaetz:  you may have a future in Missouri Republican politics!)  We're also reminded of this:

This controversy comes as former Missouri Gov. Eric Greitens, forced to resign over allegations of sexual assault and blackmailing a mistress, is mounting an attempted political comeback with a run for Senate.

Show us some more, Missouri Republicans!

(Photo:  Former State Rep. Rick Roeber official photograph)

GaetzGate Gets Sleazier (If That's Possible)

New reporting from the New York Times:

A Justice Department investigation into Representative Matt Gaetz and an indicted Florida politician is focusing on their involvement with multiple women who were recruited online for sex and received cash payments, according to people close to the investigation and text messages and payment receipts reviewed by The New York Times.

Investigators believe Joel Greenberg, the former tax collector in Seminole County, Fla., who was indicted last year on a federal sex trafficking charge and other crimes, initially met the women through websites that connect people who go on dates in exchange for gifts, fine dining, travel and allowances, according to three people with knowledge of the encounters. Mr. Greenberg introduced the women to Mr. Gaetz, who also had sex with them, the people said.

One of the women who had sex with both men also agreed to have sex with an unidentified associate of theirs in Florida Republican politics, according to a person familiar with the arrangement. Mr. Greenberg had initially contacted her online and introduced her to Mr. Gaetz, the person said.  (our emphasis)

There are receipts!

This sleazeball is like a mini- me Trump!  No wonder he was such a fanboy.  They maybe even hooked up with the same prostitutes at some point along the line.  Abusing women, misogyny, all part of the pattern of toxic behavior Gaetz had already exhibited.

Republican values!

BONUS:  We just had to add this photo of Gaetz with fellow rabid Trumper Rep. Jim "Gym" Jordan (Showers-OH), who's "standing by Gaetz" and has so far survived his own toxic sex scandal.  So far --

(Top photo:  Gaetz, center, with fellow pervs Roger Stone, left, and Joel Greenberg; bottom photo: screenshot via Wonkette.)

BREAKING: Trumper Rep. Matt Gaetz Under Sex Trafficking Investigation

One of the former guy's most fervent and sleazy supporters is following in his master's footsteps:

Breaking news from the New York Times regarding an open investigation into whether Rep. Matt Gaetz [Seditionist-FL] "had a sexual relationship with a 17-year-old and paid for her to travel with him."

If true, this would violate FEDERAL SEX TRAFFICKING LAWS. Inducing someone under the age of 18 to travel across state lines to have sex with you in exchange for gifts or money is flat out illegal. There is no grey area. Age of consent does not apply. And if found to be true, Gaetz faces an EXTREMELY lengthy prison sentence. Sex trafficking of minors is not something you can plea down to probation.

The New York Times reports that it is unclear how Gaetz, who is 38 now would have met a 17-year old two years ago. He would have been 36 at that time. Let's just think about that - a 36-year old MAN and a 17-year old girl (probably a high schooler). That is a 19-year age difference.

The investigation apparently started while Trump was still in office under the Worst AG Ever, Bill Barr. It has been reported that Trump was notified of the investigation. The New York Times further reports that the investigation is part of a "broader investigation into a political ally" of Gaetz' -- Joel Greenberg, who was indicted in the summer of 2020 for numerous charges, including sex trafficking of a child and giving money to a child in exchange for sex. One of those people he "financially supported" was an underage girl.

No wonder seditionist Gaetz has been eyeing retirement from Congress (to work at far right propaganda outlet Newsmax)! 

This is obviously a developing story, but in the meantime please join us in preemptively saying "Lock him up, lock him up!"  Also, alert low IQAnon-ers that one of those D.C. pedophile pols they've been searching for has been exposed:  #PizzaGaetz. (Alerted, some are still sticking by their pedophile man.)

BONUS:  Let's take a moment to recall his first (but perhaps not last) mug shot when he was arrested for DUI in 2008 --

 

 

BONUS II:  

I'm sorry.
I said that Matt Gaetz couldn't get any worse than 7 DUI's, sleeping w/ interns for points, being the sole NO vote on a human sex trafficking bill and threatening a witness but clearly I was wrong.. pic.twitter.com/6Bsvs6OXra

— Brown Eyed Susan (@smc429) March 30, 2021

 

(Top photo:  Gaetz and his mentor.)