# Matt Gaetz being investigated for sex with 17 year old girl (DOJ declines to charge 2023-02-15)

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/matt-gaetz-being-investigated-for-sex-with-17-year-old-girl-doj-declines-to-charge-2023-02-15/939052>\
**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:** 4

<div class="post-metadata">

**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:** [March 31, 2021, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/matt-gaetz-being-investigated-for-sex-with-17-year-old-girl-doj-declines-to-charge-2023-02-15/939052/61 "2021-03-31T23:27:22Z")

</div>

> [@MagicEyes](#):
>
> Spring Break Nestor is not the same person as Original Flavor Nestor. A google search shows at least four different Nestors. I am dying to know what the real story is here. -

Regardless, all of them are devoid of humanity. They’re Empty Nestors.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![flurb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/51bf81/32.png) [@flurb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flurb)\
**Post date:** [April 1, 2021, 1:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/matt-gaetz-being-investigated-for-sex-with-17-year-old-girl-doj-declines-to-charge-2023-02-15/939052/62 "2021-04-01T01:49:11Z")

</div>

Notable that almost no Republicans are speaking up in support of Gaetz – except for Marjorie Taylor Greene, of course. The word is he’s below even Ted Cruz’ level of popularity with his colleagues and nobody wants to step up saying kind things about a possible sex trafficker (except for Marjorie Taylor Greene, of course).

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**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:** [April 1, 2021, 2:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/matt-gaetz-being-investigated-for-sex-with-17-year-old-girl-doj-declines-to-charge-2023-02-15/939052/63 "2021-04-01T02:28:18Z")

</div>

Jim Jordan has announced his support for him. Of course.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Dag\_Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/439d5e/32.png) [@Dag\_Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dag_Otto)\
**Post date:** [April 1, 2021, 3:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/matt-gaetz-being-investigated-for-sex-with-17-year-old-girl-doj-declines-to-charge-2023-02-15/939052/64 "2021-04-01T03:18:27Z")

</div>

Another great comment (sorry, I can’t remember where):

Matt Gaetz (forehead - par 6)

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**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:** [April 1, 2021, 3:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/matt-gaetz-being-investigated-for-sex-with-17-year-old-girl-doj-declines-to-charge-2023-02-15/939052/65 "2021-04-01T03:49:19Z")

</div>

Beavis!

> <https://twitter.com/MikeBeauvais/status/1348822970265968640/photo/1>

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![zbuzz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/e19b73/32.png) [@zbuzz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zbuzz)\
**Post date:** [April 1, 2021, 6:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/matt-gaetz-being-investigated-for-sex-with-17-year-old-girl-doj-declines-to-charge-2023-02-15/939052/66 "2021-04-01T06:41:34Z")

</div>

I’m just waiting for this fucknut to go full Councilman Dexhart. If it worked in Pawnee, it will work in the Florida panhandle.

[![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/Ji1XoTsd4DU/maxresdefault.jpg "The Best of Councilman Bill Dexhart | Parks and Recreation") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ji1XoTsd4DU)

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\
**Post date:** [April 1, 2021, 7:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/matt-gaetz-being-investigated-for-sex-with-17-year-old-girl-doj-declines-to-charge-2023-02-15/939052/67 "2021-04-01T07:16:58Z")

</div>

To be fair, it _was_ his birthday.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**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:** [April 1, 2021, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/matt-gaetz-being-investigated-for-sex-with-17-year-old-girl-doj-declines-to-charge-2023-02-15/939052/68 "2021-04-01T14:59:11Z")

</div>

Here’s the scoop on the extortion scheme.

In 2007, a CIA agent named Robert Levinson went missing while on a mission in Iran. The mission may have been authorized or Levinson may have been acting as a rogue operative. Most sources think Levinson is probably dead at this point but some people apparently disagree and they think they have proof he’s alive. More background if anyone is interested

> **[Disappearance of Robert Levinson](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Disappearance_of_Robert_Levinson)**
>
> Pages for logged out editors learn more
> 
> Robert Alan Levinson (March 10, 1948 – presumed death before March 25, 2020) was an American former Drug Enforcement Administration (1970–1976) and Federal Bureau of Investigation (1976–1998) agent who disappeared on March 9, 2007, in Kish Island, Iran, while on a mission for the Central Intelligence Agency (1998–2007). Levinson's family received a $2.5 million annuity from the CIA in order to stop a lawsuit revealing details of his work in Iran a...

All of this, believe it or not, is related to Matt Gaetz getting in trouble for fucking teenagers.

Gaetz’s father is an extremely wealthy Florida politician. He was approached by people who wanted to mount some sort of extra-legal Soldier of Fortune mission to rescue and repatriate Levinson, which apparently carried a price tag of 25 million dollars.

These individuals that approached Gaetz Sr. were aware of the investigation into Gaetz the younger, which, according to documents released to the very conservative media outlet Washington Examiner, involves photographs and/or videos of Gaetz Jr. fucking teenaged girls.

The hucksters were peddling a bizarre fantasy - if Gaetz Sr gave them 25 million for this private military operation, Gaetz Jr. would become the public face of the Levinson rescue, making him the biggest hero in the history of heroism. There would be parades held in his honor and our divided nation would be unified by Butthead’s heroics. This would cause the American people to believe that punishing the hero Gaetz for the minor offense of fucking children would be a petty political move and the President would bow to public pressure and pardon him. Oh, and the government would issue a massive cash reward, giving Big Daddy Gaetz his 25 million back.  
_ **WINNING!** _

Yes, _ **this** _ was the brilliant extortion scheme. Only in Florida, no wonder the Trump family decided to call that dick shaped patch of swampland home,

Here are the documents from the Washington Examiner, I believe they were released by the Gaetz family who actually thinks it helps their cause. This is delicious.

> **[Documents detail wild alleged $25M Gaetz extortion scheme](https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/documents-detail-alleged-matt-gaetz-25-million-extortion-scheme)**
>
> Rep. Matt Gaetz possesses text message screenshots, an email, and a typed document that purportedly support his claims that a federal investigation into his relationship with a 17-year-old is related to an extortion scheme against him.

> **[READ: Full documents Matt Gaetz says back up extortion claim](https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/documents-full-matt-gaetz-extortion)**
>
> Click here to read the full story: DOCUMENTS DETAIL WILD ALLEGED MATT GAETZ $25 MILLION EXTORTION SCHEME

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\
**Post date:** [April 1, 2021, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/matt-gaetz-being-investigated-for-sex-with-17-year-old-girl-doj-declines-to-charge-2023-02-15/939052/69 "2021-04-01T15:15:43Z")

</div>

> [@Ann\_Hedonia](#):
>
> Here are the documents from the Washington Examiner, I believe they were released by the Gaetz family who actually thinks it helps their cause. This is delicious.

Figures he’d go to [that extreme right rag.](https://mediabiasfactcheck.com/washington-examiner/)

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**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:** [April 1, 2021, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/matt-gaetz-being-investigated-for-sex-with-17-year-old-girl-doj-declines-to-charge-2023-02-15/939052/70 "2021-04-01T15:17:49Z")

</div>

More on the years of efforts to free Levinson, or, more accurately, to get rich people (like Russian oligarch Oleg Deripaska) to fork over money to finance freeing Levinson. It sounds like these Floridian hucksters have made this into quite the cottage industry.

> **[Inside the Secret Campaign to Find an American Hostage](https://www.newsweek.com/robert-levinson-fbi-agent-iran-rescue-1356990)**
>
> Saturday marks the 12th anniversary of Levinson's disappearance. Private rescue groups say the U.S. government is thwarting efforts to bring him home

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**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:** [April 1, 2021, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/matt-gaetz-being-investigated-for-sex-with-17-year-old-girl-doj-declines-to-charge-2023-02-15/939052/71 "2021-04-01T15:47:31Z")

</div>

> **[Matt Gaetz Vehemently Denies Wrist Full Of Sex Bracelets Has Anything To Do...](https://www.theonion.com/matt-gaetz-vehemently-denies-wrist-full-of-sex-bracelet-1846591487)**
>
> WASHINGTON—Claiming that dozens of multicolored bands adorning his wrist were entirely unrelated to the DOJ probe into his potential sex crimes involving a minor, Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) vehemently denied Wednesday that his arm covered in sex...

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**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:** [April 1, 2021, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/matt-gaetz-being-investigated-for-sex-with-17-year-old-girl-doj-declines-to-charge-2023-02-15/939052/72 "2021-04-01T15:50:32Z")

</div>

> [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](#):
>
> [Matt Gaetz Vehemently Denies Wrist Full Of Sex Bracelets Has Anything To Do With 17-Year-Old](https://www.theonion.com/matt-gaetz-vehemently-denies-wrist-full-of-sex-bracelet-1846591487) -

And once again, _The Onion_ shows how blurred the line between reality and satire is.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![squeegee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/squeegee/32/14537_2.png) [@squeegee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/squeegee)\
**Post date:** [April 1, 2021, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/matt-gaetz-being-investigated-for-sex-with-17-year-old-girl-doj-declines-to-charge-2023-02-15/939052/73 "2021-04-01T19:13:00Z")

</div>

“Sex bracelet” ?

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**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:** [April 1, 2021, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/matt-gaetz-being-investigated-for-sex-with-17-year-old-girl-doj-declines-to-charge-2023-02-15/939052/74 "2021-04-01T19:21:58Z")

</div>

I’m not believing pretty much anything from the Washington Examiner.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\
**Post date:** [April 1, 2021, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/matt-gaetz-being-investigated-for-sex-with-17-year-old-girl-doj-declines-to-charge-2023-02-15/939052/75 "2021-04-01T19:25:48Z")

</div>

“Sex bracelets” are a thing/legend/whatever from the early 2000s. Reading the story I was like, oh yeah, I forgot about that whole thing.

> **[Sex Bracelets](https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/sex-bracelets/)**
>
> Warning about schoolkids signalling their sexual availability through the use of jelly bracelets.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**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:** [April 1, 2021, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/matt-gaetz-being-investigated-for-sex-with-17-year-old-girl-doj-declines-to-charge-2023-02-15/939052/76 "2021-04-01T19:30:24Z")

</div>

I know they’re a lousy source and I hesitated to link to them just on principle.

But do you really think they forged the documents they published? The documents ARE the story, not the reporting behind them, and they speak for themselves and go a long way towards cutting through the vague bullshit that’s been thrown around.

And if someone else forged the documents and gave them to The Washington Examiner, that makes the story even juicier.

What I found particularly amusing was that the Gaetz’s thinks this helps them, but it actually hints that the case against Matt might be more lascivious than previous reporting hinted. I was thinking he just dated an underage girl, but this hints at sex tapes.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**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:** [April 1, 2021, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/matt-gaetz-being-investigated-for-sex-with-17-year-old-girl-doj-declines-to-charge-2023-02-15/939052/77 "2021-04-01T19:59:40Z")

</div>

If WE publishes anything hitting liberals we’re (rightly) quick to discount the story without collaboration from a trusted source. I won’t mind seeing Gaetz get taken down by a tawdry scandal but I want to see the story collaborated before I put any stock in it.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\
**Post date:** [April 1, 2021, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/matt-gaetz-being-investigated-for-sex-with-17-year-old-girl-doj-declines-to-charge-2023-02-15/939052/78 "2021-04-01T20:11:42Z")

</div>

The WE putting out a hit piece on a Democrat is different from them doing it to a Trump loyalist. It’s certainly reasonable to still be skeptical of them, but the fact that they’re turning fire on Gaetz at all is noteworthy, even if the allegations turn out to be bullshit.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**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:** [April 1, 2021, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/matt-gaetz-being-investigated-for-sex-with-17-year-old-girl-doj-declines-to-charge-2023-02-15/939052/79 "2021-04-01T20:34:42Z")

</div>

My take on it is that The Washington Examiner didn’t intend for this to be a hit piece on Gaetz.

I reads like something that was given to them by a source that thinks this exonerates Gaetz. I think _they_ think it exonerates Gaetz. This is an attempt by Gaetz or his surrogates to play the “This is a political hit job” card, even though no one is even claiming that the investigation itself was politically motivated. They’re just claiming that some con artists got wind of the investigation and decided to make a buck off it.

I don’t see a scenario where this story isn’t a significant development in a case we know very little about. If the documents attached to the story are genuine, it’s significant. If they are forged, it’s significant in a different way. Either way, if you are interested in what Gaetz is blathering about when he talks about being extorted, this provides clarification.

This aspect of the story really has very little to do with whether or not Matt Gaetz fucked one or more 17 year old girls. (I noticed he keeps saying it’s absolutely false that he had a relationship with a 17 year olds so I’m thinking she may be 15 or 16.) It’s a distraction.

I know I’m speculating a lot, but I love financial crime stories. I love unwinding the intricacies and I love analyzing the mistakes that make the plots unravel. A story like this is like a puzzle to me, and I like putting together the pieces and trying to fill in the blanks.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**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:** [April 1, 2021, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/matt-gaetz-being-investigated-for-sex-with-17-year-old-girl-doj-declines-to-charge-2023-02-15/939052/80 "2021-04-01T21:23:14Z")

</div>

> [@Ann\_Hedonia](#):
>
> My take on it is that The Washington Examiner didn’t intend for this to be a hit piece on Gaetz.

Which is perhaps even more reason to discount WE. I’m just uncomfortable giving them any kind of platform just because it’s making a politician I don’t like look even more stupid. Likely nobody (justifiably) gives a rats ass about what makes me uncomfortable but I’d like to see a more reputable source before I start speculating.

[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=3)

[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=5)
