# Matt Gaetz being investigated for sex with 17 year old girl (DOJ declines to charge 2023-02-15) **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [March 30, 2021, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/matt-gaetz-being-investigated-for-sex-with-17-year-old-girl-doj-declines-to-charge-2023-02-15/939052 "2021-03-30T22:13:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 26
**Author:** ![Deeg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/deeg/32/2955_2.png) [@Deeg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Deeg)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2021, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/matt-gaetz-being-investigated-for-sex-with-17-year-old-girl-doj-declines-to-charge-2023-02-15/939052/504 "2021-07-29T17:47:32Z")
My guess is that it’s a variant of Rule 36. Some women like seeing another woman abused. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2021, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/matt-gaetz-being-investigated-for-sex-with-17-year-old-girl-doj-declines-to-charge-2023-02-15/939052/505 "2021-07-29T21:09:00Z")
> [@DWMarch](#): > > > [@Senegoid](#): > > > > We’ve seen other scandalous news stories from time to time over the years, in which a male-and-female couple perpetrates unmentionable horrors that involve sexual abuses of females by the male party, with no clear reason what’s in it for the female participating perp. > > Karla Homolka is an example from Canada. > > [Karla Homolka - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karla_Homolka) See also: > **[Marion Zimmer Bradley | Child sex abuse allegations](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marion_Zimmer_Bradley#Child_sex_abuse_allegations)** > > In 2014, Bradley's daughter, Moira Greyland, accused her of sexual abuse from the age of 3 to 12. In an email to The Guardian, Greyland said that she had not spoken out before because "I thought that my mother's fans would be angry with me for saying anything against someone who had championed women's rights and made so many of them feel differently about themselves and their lives. I didn't want to hurt anyone she had helped, so I just kept my mouth shut". > Greyland also reported that she was no... > **[Rose West](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rose_West)** > > Rosemary Pauline West (née Letts; born 29 November 1953) is an English serial killer who collaborated with her husband, Fred West, in the torture and murder of at least nine young women between 1973 and 1987; she also murdered her eight-year-old stepdaughter Charmaine in 1971. The majority of these murders took place at the West residence in Gloucester. > West is currently an inmate at HM Prison New Hall, Flockton, West Yorkshire, after being convicted in 1995 of ten murders. Fred West committ... ---
**Author:** ![DesertDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/desertdog/32/11503_2.png) [@DesertDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DesertDog)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2021, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/matt-gaetz-being-investigated-for-sex-with-17-year-old-girl-doj-declines-to-charge-2023-02-15/939052/506 "2021-07-30T00:14:48Z")
> [@Folacin](#): > > But more likely she just doesn’t believe a good Christian could do something like that. Is there _any_ evidence he is a good Christian? Other than party affiliation, that is. ---
**Author:** ![eschereal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschereal/32/18939_2.png) [@eschereal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschereal)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2021, 1:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/matt-gaetz-being-investigated-for-sex-with-17-year-old-girl-doj-declines-to-charge-2023-02-15/939052/507 "2021-07-30T01:53:27Z")
[Cardinal Ted McCarrick was](https://www.dailypress.com/nation-world/ct-aud-nw-cardinal-mccarrick-charged-sexual-assault-20210729-5twhnjykfzdv5fyhtagg3lgegq-story.html) a good Christian. I mean he had to be, to reach a level one step away from the papacy. No good letting little boys get in his way. ---
**Author:** ![mistymage](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mistymage/32/459_2.png) [@mistymage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mistymage)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2021, 2:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/matt-gaetz-being-investigated-for-sex-with-17-year-old-girl-doj-declines-to-charge-2023-02-15/939052/508 "2021-07-30T02:01:22Z")
So from April to July… what’s going on that is taking so long to find out for sure what happened? Not like it’s the 1880s and no one today has a cellphone (except us\* few) that doesn’t track our every movement. I know I am impatient. I just want him and the Geewhiz Republicans booted. (Green, Gaetz, Gosart etc) \*I want a cellphone for the rare occasions my vehicle breaks down and to be able to tether it to my fire tablet in case I want to watch a movie or read the next book in a series that I haven’t already downloaded. Whichever company MisterMage uses only covers 4 people. There are 5 of us. ---
**Author:** ![Senegoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senegoid/32/6606_2.png) [@Senegoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Senegoid)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2021, 7:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/matt-gaetz-being-investigated-for-sex-with-17-year-old-girl-doj-declines-to-charge-2023-02-15/939052/509 "2021-07-30T07:55:52Z")
> [@mistymage](#): > > So from April to July… what’s going on that is taking so long to find out for sure what happened? I wonder this about a LOT of investigations. Like that investigation of Trump and his phone call to Raffensperger. It’s known exactly what was said by whom. There’s a published recording of it. It’s known what the law is, I should hope. What more needs to be investigated, that they’ve been “investigating” all this time? ---
**Author:** ![Mollie\_Magill](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mollie_magill/32/20882_2.png) [@Mollie\_Magill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mollie_Magill)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2021, 1:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/matt-gaetz-being-investigated-for-sex-with-17-year-old-girl-doj-declines-to-charge-2023-02-15/939052/510 "2021-07-30T13:20:28Z")
> [@mistymage](#): > > So from April to July… what’s going on that is taking so long to find out for sure what happened? > > Not like it’s the 1880s and no one today has a cellphone (except us\* few) that doesn’t track our every movement. > > I know I am impatient. I just want him and the Geewhiz Republicans booted. (Green, Gaetz, Gosart etc) > > \*I want a cellphone for the rare occasions my vehicle breaks down and to be able to tether it to my fire tablet in case I want to watch a movie or read the next book in a series that I haven’t already downloaded. Whichever company MisterMage uses only covers 4 people. There are 5 of us. You’ve got to remember, because Gaetz is in congress, the FBI will want to have an ironclad case against him before they even indict him. They also probably want to gather as much evidence they can before they are required to share said evidence with Gaetz’ lawyers. Also their goal is indictment and conviction; his goal is to fight it in the court of public opinion - if they can keep the investigation out of the news, they remove an arrow from Gaetz’ quiver. When they finally move to indict, expect the US Attorney to hold a three hour press event where they lay out a shit ton of evidence, a la Scooter Libby. Also, I expect them to repeatedly mention that the investigation started under the Trump Administration. ---
**Author:** ![Snarky\_Kong](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a183cd/32.png) [@Snarky\_Kong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snarky_Kong)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2021, 1:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/matt-gaetz-being-investigated-for-sex-with-17-year-old-girl-doj-declines-to-charge-2023-02-15/939052/511 "2021-07-30T13:22:39Z")
The sex itself isn’t illegal, right? It’s the potential solicitation and/or trafficking I thought? If so, that seems like it would be a lot harder to prove and take a lot more investigation. ---
**Author:** ![Mollie\_Magill](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mollie_magill/32/20882_2.png) [@Mollie\_Magill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mollie_Magill)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2021, 1:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/matt-gaetz-being-investigated-for-sex-with-17-year-old-girl-doj-declines-to-charge-2023-02-15/939052/512 "2021-07-30T13:28:20Z")
The transportation across state lines and international boundaries are the biggies that we know about. I’m willing to bet there is a lot more they’re learning about since his tax assessor buddy had started cooperating. I’m willing to bet there is a lot more going on than just the Bunga-Bunga parties. ---
**Author:** ![Ann\_Hedonia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ann_hedonia/32/319_2.png) [@Ann\_Hedonia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ann_Hedonia)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2021, 1:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/matt-gaetz-being-investigated-for-sex-with-17-year-old-girl-doj-declines-to-charge-2023-02-15/939052/513 "2021-07-30T13:47:38Z")
IANAL, but I suspect that in many of the cases, the prosecutors are challenged by the charging decisions. The prosecutors will look at other similar cases, the charges brought and the penalties sought - in order to determine how to charge the current case. This is especially important if the case involves a public figure, it’s how the prosecutors justify their decision and counter charges of bias. It’s a little bit like how a real estate agent will seek out comps when deciding how to price a house. But some of these Republican bozo crimes ( especially those committed by Trump as President) are so unique it’s hard to find comparable cases - because there are none. So the President of the USA ran an extortion campaign and threatened to prosecute a Secretary of State unless he rigged the election. How did we charge that case the last time that happened…………? It’s especially difficult when the criminal was President of the United States, because there are lots of things the POTUS can do legally that an ordinary citizen can’t - and vice versa. This doesn’t mean those charges can’t be bought, they can…just like that totally unique house can eventually be priced and sold. It’s just harder. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2021, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/matt-gaetz-being-investigated-for-sex-with-17-year-old-girl-doj-declines-to-charge-2023-02-15/939052/514 "2021-07-30T16:11:20Z")
What worries me, is that for Gaetz and Trump and the like, is all it takes is one MAGAt on the jury, and they will be screaming “Witch Hunt, totally innocent. The evil Libruls are after all of us. Vote for me and I can save you” That will also happen it any of these folks are taken to justice though, I’m sure. ---
**Author:** ![Guest-starring\_Id](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guest-starring_id/32/21736_2.png) [@Guest-starring\_Id](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guest-starring_Id)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2021, 2:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/matt-gaetz-being-investigated-for-sex-with-17-year-old-girl-doj-declines-to-charge-2023-02-15/939052/515 "2021-07-31T02:53:21Z")
> [@Ann\_Hedonia](#): > > This doesn’t mean those charges can’t be **bought…** I always thought deep down they were corrupt. ---
**Author:** ![Drsunflower1](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drsunflower1/32/12711_2.png) [@Drsunflower1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drsunflower1)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2021, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/matt-gaetz-being-investigated-for-sex-with-17-year-old-girl-doj-declines-to-charge-2023-02-15/939052/516 "2021-08-04T14:50:15Z")
> [@DWMarch](#): > > Karla Homolka is an example from Canada. [Marc Dutroux - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marc_Dutroux?wprov=sfla1) This was the first that came to my mind. Idk how much impact this case had in the US, but here it was huge. A Belgian writer, Kristen Hemmerechts, has written an experimental novel in which she tried to get into the mind of his wife, Michele Martin. It’s called the woman who fed the dogs. Horrible, but a literary tour de force nonetheless. ---
**Author:** ![Rick\_Kitchen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rick_kitchen/32/522_2.png) [@Rick\_Kitchen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick_Kitchen)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2021, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/matt-gaetz-being-investigated-for-sex-with-17-year-old-girl-doj-declines-to-charge-2023-02-15/939052/517 "2021-08-12T18:08:02Z")
Joel Greenberg is spilling his guts and providing documents. [https://abcnews.go.com/US/gaetz-associate-providing-feds-intel-documents-probe-congressman/story](https://abcnews.go.com/US/gaetz-associate-providing-feds-intel-documents-probe-congressman/story) ---
**Author:** ![Buck\_Godot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/buck_godot/32/6573_2.png) [@Buck\_Godot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Buck_Godot)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2021, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/matt-gaetz-being-investigated-for-sex-with-17-year-old-girl-doj-declines-to-charge-2023-02-15/939052/518 "2021-08-12T18:19:08Z")
Your link didn’t work for me. Try this one: > **[Gaetz associate providing feds intel, documents as probe into congressman...](https://abcnews.go.com/US/gaetz-associate-providing-feds-intel-documents-probe-congressman/story?id=79388281)** > > Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz's one-time wingman has been steadily providing investigators with potential evidence that could implicate Gaetz in a federal probe, sources say. ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2021, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/matt-gaetz-being-investigated-for-sex-with-17-year-old-girl-doj-declines-to-charge-2023-02-15/939052/519 "2021-08-12T22:34:10Z")
That is the most Butthead-looking photo of Gaetz I’ve seen yet. You’d swear Mike Judge drew him. [![](https://s.abcnews.com/images/US/matt-gaetz-file-gty-jef-210810_1628627990185_hpMain_16x9_992.jpg) ](https://s.abcnews.com/images/US/matt-gaetz-file-gty-jef-210810_1628627990185_hpMain_16x9_992.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2021, 5:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/matt-gaetz-being-investigated-for-sex-with-17-year-old-girl-doj-declines-to-charge-2023-02-15/939052/520 "2021-08-13T05:34:01Z")
And whoever found this picture and chose to use it in this particular article is a genius: [![](https://s.abcnews.com/images/US/greenberg-nc-er-210514_1621018601102_hpEmbed_2_4x3_992.jpg) ](https://s.abcnews.com/images/US/greenberg-nc-er-210514_1621018601102_hpEmbed_2_4x3_992.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Dandan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a87d85/32.png) [@Dandan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dandan)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2021, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/matt-gaetz-being-investigated-for-sex-with-17-year-old-girl-doj-declines-to-charge-2023-02-15/939052/521 "2021-08-13T15:27:43Z")
> [@Guest-starring\_Id](#): > > I’lll say that their publicity is good only for a certain moronic demographic That would be the M D that brought us to this. Dan ---
**Author:** ![DWMarch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dwmarch/32/1010_2.png) [@DWMarch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DWMarch)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2021, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/matt-gaetz-being-investigated-for-sex-with-17-year-old-girl-doj-declines-to-charge-2023-02-15/939052/522 "2021-08-15T02:21:47Z")
There’s a line in the news article I love, where Gaetz thinks this counts as a defense: “not one woman has come forward to accuse Rep. Gaetz of wrongdoing”. Well, yeah. The prostitutes that he was paying would not be very good prostitutes if they ratted on him. And no one is saying he did anything wrong _to_ the prostitutes when he was paying them for sexual services. ---
**Author:** ![drad\_dog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/aeb1de/32.png) [@drad\_dog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drad_dog)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2021, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/matt-gaetz-being-investigated-for-sex-with-17-year-old-girl-doj-declines-to-charge-2023-02-15/939052/523 "2021-08-15T21:18:30Z")
When multiple women come forward he can still say it truthfully. Clever bastard. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/matt-gaetz-being-investigated-for-sex-with-17-year-old-girl-doj-declines-to-charge-2023-02-15/939052.md?page=25) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/matt-gaetz-being-investigated-for-sex-with-17-year-old-girl-doj-declines-to-charge-2023-02-15/939052.md?page=27)