# 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:** 35
**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:** [December 1, 2022, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/matt-gaetz-being-investigated-for-sex-with-17-year-old-girl-doj-declines-to-charge-2023-02-15/939052/684 "2022-12-01T20:31:15Z")
While it sucks that prosecutors don’t think there is enough evidence to convict, not indicting means Gaetz is likely to become a martyr. ---
**Author:** ![Folacin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/folacin/32/3195_2.png) [@Folacin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Folacin)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2022, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/matt-gaetz-being-investigated-for-sex-with-17-year-old-girl-doj-declines-to-charge-2023-02-15/939052/685 "2022-12-02T19:44:01Z")
I would think indicting would make him a martyr - if he doesn’t get indicted, the story goes away unless he wants to keep bringing it (which IMO is doubtful). ---
**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:** [December 2, 2022, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/matt-gaetz-being-investigated-for-sex-with-17-year-old-girl-doj-declines-to-charge-2023-02-15/939052/686 "2022-12-02T19:50:19Z")
Yes - it would have helped had I included the word “less”. ---
**Author:** ![MandaJo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ac91a4/32.png) [@MandaJo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MandaJo)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2022, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/matt-gaetz-being-investigated-for-sex-with-17-year-old-girl-doj-declines-to-charge-2023-02-15/939052/687 "2022-12-02T21:29:54Z")
Im just shocked a bunch of other shady shit didn’t bubble to the surface: these two were thick as theives and into all kinds of corruption. I’d hoped that even if they couldn’t tie him to the trafficking, there would be other stuff. Bribes. Kickbacks. Tax evasion. ---
**Author:** ![CaptMurdock](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/captmurdock/32/11736_2.png) [@CaptMurdock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CaptMurdock)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2022, 1:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/matt-gaetz-being-investigated-for-sex-with-17-year-old-girl-doj-declines-to-charge-2023-02-15/939052/688 "2022-12-03T01:35:46Z")
I’m surprised that any plea deal the feds offered this mutt didn’t include a “but only on conviction” codicil. He’s getting 11 years; what would it have been if he hadn’t cooperated? ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2022, 1:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/matt-gaetz-being-investigated-for-sex-with-17-year-old-girl-doj-declines-to-charge-2023-02-15/939052/689 "2022-12-03T01:47:28Z")
Was his cooperation even useful? It wasn’t enough to get anyone else. ---
**Author:** ![Kolak\_of\_Twilo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kolak_of_twilo/32/73_2.png) [@Kolak\_of\_Twilo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kolak_of_Twilo)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2022, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/matt-gaetz-being-investigated-for-sex-with-17-year-old-girl-doj-declines-to-charge-2023-02-15/939052/690 "2022-12-03T01:55:42Z")
I meant to drop this in here the other day but got busy and forgot. It is a gift link to the NYT article so everyone should be able to link to the article. Joel Greenberg, Former Gaetz Confidant, Sentenced to 11 Years in Prison I am quoting this part because I haven’t see it mentioned previously in this thread or other articles. Note the portion I have bolded. > Mr. Greenberg has told federal authorities that he witnessed Mr. Gaetz have sex with the 17-year-old girl and that she was paid. In documents filed in connection with Mr. Greenberg’s sentencing, the Justice Department said he had “provided truthful and timely information” that led to the charging of at least four other people and “provided substantial assistance on other matters” that the government would address only in a sealed filing. > **But there are several hurdles to bringing a case against Mr. Gaetz, who has denied any wrongdoing. Among the challenges is that the girl has said she does not believe she was a victim, according to a person briefed on the matter.** Excuse me but the young woman was 17, how is that not illegal whether she considers herself a victim or not? If that’s enough to let Gaetz off then why is Greenberg in trouble for trafficking? (I know there are other things he did so no need to point that out.) Also, who are these four other people who have been/will be charged and why is the filing sealed? ---
**Author:** ![Bootb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e19b73/32.png) [@Bootb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bootb)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2022, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/matt-gaetz-being-investigated-for-sex-with-17-year-old-girl-doj-declines-to-charge-2023-02-15/939052/691 "2022-12-03T16:00:57Z")
> [@Kolak\_of\_Twilo](#): > > Excuse me but the young woman was 17, how is that not illegal whether she considers herself a victim or not? If that’s enough to let Gaetz off then why is Greenberg in trouble for trafficking? (I know there are other things he did so no need to point that out.) Maybe it has to do with the local age of consent? ---
**Author:** ![MandaJo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ac91a4/32.png) [@MandaJo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MandaJo)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2022, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/matt-gaetz-being-investigated-for-sex-with-17-year-old-girl-doj-declines-to-charge-2023-02-15/939052/692 "2022-12-03T16:14:12Z")
No, it’s a federal charge. ---
**Author:** ![Tamerlane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tamerlane/32/7602_2.png) [@Tamerlane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamerlane)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2022, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/matt-gaetz-being-investigated-for-sex-with-17-year-old-girl-doj-declines-to-charge-2023-02-15/939052/693 "2022-12-03T19:19:00Z")
> [@Kolak\_of\_Twilo](#): > > Excuse me but the young woman was 17, how is that not illegal whether she considers herself a victim or not? > [@Bootb](#): > > Maybe it has to do with the local age of consent? I suspect it is just the uncertainty of a jury trial. DA’s don’t like bringing anything but rock solid cases and if you have a star witness who was near the age of consent saying it was a consensual relationship and she didn’t feel at all abused, suddenly you aren’t rock solid. Because whatever the plain language of the law says, all you need is one stubborn juror to be convinced/decide that this was a witch hunt based on a technicality and you have a mistrial. I assume Greenberg was just a heck of a lot more exposed than Gaetz (or prosecutors successfully convinced him he was). ---
**Author:** ![carrps](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carrps/32/2957_2.png) [@carrps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carrps)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2022, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/matt-gaetz-being-investigated-for-sex-with-17-year-old-girl-doj-declines-to-charge-2023-02-15/939052/694 "2022-12-03T22:04:59Z")
> [@Tamerlane](#): > > I assume Greenberg was just a heck of a lot more exposed than Gaetz (or prosecutors successfully convinced him he was). Greenberg wasn’t just involved the whole underage girls thing, he was doing a lot of other criminal activities. I’m sure that’s what kicked up his numbers for possible sentencing. ---
**Author:** ![Kolak\_of\_Twilo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kolak_of_twilo/32/73_2.png) [@Kolak\_of\_Twilo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kolak_of_Twilo)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2022, 1:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/matt-gaetz-being-investigated-for-sex-with-17-year-old-girl-doj-declines-to-charge-2023-02-15/939052/695 "2022-12-04T01:23:45Z")
@Tamerlane, Thanks, that makes sense. It’s very frustrating if this is why that fuck Gaetz gets away with this but at least it is an explanation. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2022, 2:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/matt-gaetz-being-investigated-for-sex-with-17-year-old-girl-doj-declines-to-charge-2023-02-15/939052/696 "2022-12-04T14:11:20Z")
Why would anyone in congress even talk to that piece of shit. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2022, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/matt-gaetz-being-investigated-for-sex-with-17-year-old-girl-doj-declines-to-charge-2023-02-15/939052/697 "2022-12-04T15:12:00Z")
> [@enipla](#): > > Why would anyone in congress even talk to that piece of shit. - They speak the same language. ---
**Author:** ![Hamlet](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hamlet/32/2818_2.png) [@Hamlet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hamlet)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2022, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/matt-gaetz-being-investigated-for-sex-with-17-year-old-girl-doj-declines-to-charge-2023-02-15/939052/698 "2022-12-07T16:02:09Z")
> [@Tamerlane](#): > > > [@Kolak\_of\_Twilo](#): > > > > Excuse me but the young woman was 17, how is that not illegal whether she considers herself a victim or not? > > > [@Bootb](#): > > > > Maybe it has to do with the local age of consent? > > I suspect it is just the uncertainty of a jury trial. DA’s don’t like bringing anything but rock solid cases and if you have a star witness who was near the age of consent saying it was a consensual relationship and she didn’t feel at all abused, suddenly you aren’t rock solid. Because whatever the plain language of the law says, all you need is one stubborn juror to be convinced/decide that this was a witch hunt based on a technicality and you have a mistrial. Just to add to this, good prosecutors are also aware of the effect of charging/trial on the victims too. If the victim is reluctant in the first place, and the trial is likely going to cause the victim even more harm (a loss of anonymity, FOXNews tearing her down every night for months, reliving a bad time that the victim just wants to get past), it just may be for the best if no additional charges are brought. ---
**Author:** ![Irishman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b487fb/32.png) [@Irishman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Irishman)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2022, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/matt-gaetz-being-investigated-for-sex-with-17-year-old-girl-doj-declines-to-charge-2023-02-15/939052/699 "2022-12-10T20:24:46Z")
> [@Kolak\_of\_Twilo](#): > > Also, who are these four other people who have been/will be charged and why is the filing sealed? One of the issues was Greenberg getting Gaetz into a Florida DMV. Maybe part of his charges and plea involve issues over identity theft or fake documents. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2023, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/matt-gaetz-being-investigated-for-sex-with-17-year-old-girl-doj-declines-to-charge-2023-02-15/939052/700 "2023-02-15T18:18:27Z")
DOJ declines to charge. > **[FIRST ON CNN: DOJ officially decides not to charge Matt Gaetz in...](https://www.cnn.com/2023/02/15/politics/matt-gaetz-justice-department/index.html)** > > The Justice Department has informed lawyers for at least one witness that it will not bring charges against Florida GOP Rep. Matt Gaetz after a years-long federal sex-trafficking investigation, according to a source familiar with the matter. ---
**Author:** ![Roderick\_Femm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/roderick_femm/32/14875_2.png) [@Roderick\_Femm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roderick_Femm)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2023, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/matt-gaetz-being-investigated-for-sex-with-17-year-old-girl-doj-declines-to-charge-2023-02-15/939052/701 "2023-02-15T18:54:00Z")
And now he gets to (invalidly) proclaim himself as declared innocent of all charges. Florida Man triumpant! ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2023, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/matt-gaetz-being-investigated-for-sex-with-17-year-old-girl-doj-declines-to-charge-2023-02-15/939052/702 "2023-02-15T19:05:45Z")
I’m ignorant of how this works: how much of the investigation will become public record once the investigation closes? ---
**Author:** ![Irishman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b487fb/32.png) [@Irishman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Irishman)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2023, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/matt-gaetz-being-investigated-for-sex-with-17-year-old-girl-doj-declines-to-charge-2023-02-15/939052/703 "2023-03-30T16:25:34Z")
> [@Folacin](#): > > I would think indicting would make him a martyr - if he doesn’t get indicted, the story goes away unless he wants to keep bringing it (which IMO is doubtful). I think it will be lumped in with all the claims of Republicans being victims of Democrats abusing the system with witch hunts. “Poor Matt Gaetz was slandered by those evil Democrats who pursued this for political purposes.” > [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](#): > > I’m ignorant of how this works: how much of the investigation will become public record once the investigation closes? Good question. I suspect that because the indictment of Greenberg was sealed that there are elements of the Gaetz investigation that are also considered sensitive by the investigators. I doubt FOI requests will get much on Gaetz. [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=34) [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=36)