# 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:** 5
**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 2, 2021, 12:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/matt-gaetz-being-investigated-for-sex-with-17-year-old-girl-doj-declines-to-charge-2023-02-15/939052/81 "2021-04-02T00:23:48Z")
CNN is reporting that Gaetz showed off naked photos of a woman he allegedly slept with, to people on the floor of the House. > **[Matt Gaetz shared nude photo on House floor of woman he said he had slept...](https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/matt-gaetz-women-nude-photos-b1825881.html)** > > Congressman is under DOJ investigation over alleged relationship with 17-year-old girl ---
**Author:** ![Wolf333](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolf333/32/3460_2.png) [@Wolf333](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wolf333)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2021, 12:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/matt-gaetz-being-investigated-for-sex-with-17-year-old-girl-doj-declines-to-charge-2023-02-15/939052/82 "2021-04-02T00:36:33Z")
Anyone else think this sounds like a Carl Hiaasen novel? When are Skink and Garcia going to show up? ---
**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:** [April 2, 2021, 1:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/matt-gaetz-being-investigated-for-sex-with-17-year-old-girl-doj-declines-to-charge-2023-02-15/939052/83 "2021-04-02T01:14:59Z")
You just made me snort vodka out of my nose. Stings, but it was worth it. ---
**Author:** ![BippityBoppityBoo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bippityboppityboo/32/5745_2.png) [@BippityBoppityBoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BippityBoppityBoo)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2021, 1:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/matt-gaetz-being-investigated-for-sex-with-17-year-old-girl-doj-declines-to-charge-2023-02-15/939052/84 "2021-04-02T01:50:07Z")
> [@Kolak\_of\_Twilo](#): > > Stings, but it was worth it. Coke Zero here. Stings, but it was worth it. ---
**Author:** ![romansperson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/romansperson/32/17100_2.png) [@romansperson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/romansperson)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2021, 2:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/matt-gaetz-being-investigated-for-sex-with-17-year-old-girl-doj-declines-to-charge-2023-02-15/939052/85 "2021-04-02T02:09:57Z")
> [@Ann\_Hedonia](#): > > Sugar babies are young attractive women who seek “arrangements” with older affluent men, relationships that involve travel and expensive gifts, sometimes cash gifts. They are websites that facilitate such arrangements. This part of things seems to be panning out: > **[Justice Dept. Inquiry Into Matt Gaetz Said to Be Focused on Cash Paid to...](https://www.nytimes.com/2021/04/01/us/politics/matt-gaetz-justice-department.html)** > > The congressman and a former official in Florida sent money to the women using cash apps, receipts showed. > 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. ---
**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 2, 2021, 3:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/matt-gaetz-being-investigated-for-sex-with-17-year-old-girl-doj-declines-to-charge-2023-02-15/939052/86 "2021-04-02T03:32:07Z")
FWIW, Gaetz himself retweeted the Washington Examiner Story, claiming it backs up his version of events. ---
**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 2, 2021, 4:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/matt-gaetz-being-investigated-for-sex-with-17-year-old-girl-doj-declines-to-charge-2023-02-15/939052/87 "2021-04-02T04:50:32Z")
That’s the kiss of death in my book 😁 ---
**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 2, 2021, 1:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/matt-gaetz-being-investigated-for-sex-with-17-year-old-girl-doj-declines-to-charge-2023-02-15/939052/88 "2021-04-02T13:15:50Z")
> **[Tucker Carlson livid after Rep. Matt Gaetz tries to rope him into...](https://www.cnn.com/2021/03/31/media/tucker-carlson-matt-gaetz-reaction/index.html)** > > Fox News host Tucker Carlson was angered after Congressman Matt Gaetz attempted to rope him into a scandal involving allegations related to sex trafficking of a minor, a person familiar with the matter said. ---
**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 2, 2021, 1:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/matt-gaetz-being-investigated-for-sex-with-17-year-old-girl-doj-declines-to-charge-2023-02-15/939052/89 "2021-04-02T13:37:19Z")
> [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](#): > > [https://www.cnn.com/2021/03/31/media/tucker-carlson-matt-gaetz-reaction/index.html](https://www.cnn.com/2021/03/31/media/tucker-carlson-matt-gaetz-reaction/index.html) - Like he wouldn’t have jumped at the chance. ---
**Author:** ![Fiveyearlurker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/da6949/32.png) [@Fiveyearlurker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiveyearlurker)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2021, 1:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/matt-gaetz-being-investigated-for-sex-with-17-year-old-girl-doj-declines-to-charge-2023-02-15/939052/90 "2021-04-02T13:41:39Z")
Interesting timing here. Gaetz’s buddy was indicted in June, 2020 according to this article. Which is exactly when Gaetz, for no apparent reason, decided to [reveal](https://people.com/politics/matt-gaetz-tells-story-boy-he-raised-as-a-son/) his secret man-child adoption. ---
**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:** [April 2, 2021, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/matt-gaetz-being-investigated-for-sex-with-17-year-old-girl-doj-declines-to-charge-2023-02-15/939052/91 "2021-04-02T15:23:44Z")
I found this article interesting: > **[These Text Messages Pointed the Feds to Matt Gaetz](https://www.thedailybeast.com/these-text-messages-led-the-feds-to-matt-gaetz)** > > Rep. Matt Gaetz, now facing a reported probe into a pay-for-sex scheme, came to investigators’ attention after an alleged off-hours visit to a Florida tax agency. It has background into how the investigation got started. ---
**Author:** ![rocking\_chair](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rocking_chair/32/2918_2.png) [@rocking\_chair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rocking_chair)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2021, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/matt-gaetz-being-investigated-for-sex-with-17-year-old-girl-doj-declines-to-charge-2023-02-15/939052/92 "2021-04-02T16:00:58Z")
i always thought mr hiaasen was exaggerating… not so much now. ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2021, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/matt-gaetz-being-investigated-for-sex-with-17-year-old-girl-doj-declines-to-charge-2023-02-15/939052/93 "2021-04-02T16:01:55Z")
Actually that is one of the big underlying assumptions the likes of Gaetz, Trump and their close circle rest upon and want to reinforce - that _everyone_ given the chance would do the same crooked or immoral things, and enforcing the law about it is just about selectively putting people in their place. Everyone does it, so it’s no problem if we do, it’s so unfair to call us on it. So Carlson and his wife were at a dinner with Gaetz and some woman. Then Gaetz tries to imply that merely being in their presence somehow makes him a fellow suspect? At most it would make him a possible _witness_ to be asked to pick if he recognized her as any of the implicated persons. Y’know what… hypothesis: Gaetz did this with full intention, to give a warning shot to anyone on the conservative mediasphere, that no matter who you are if you give any oxygen to this story he’ll try to hurt you and make you look unreliable (as if Tucker himself needed any help). ---
**Author:** ![Icarus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/icarus/32/72_2.png) [@Icarus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Icarus)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2021, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/matt-gaetz-being-investigated-for-sex-with-17-year-old-girl-doj-declines-to-charge-2023-02-15/939052/94 "2021-04-02T16:27:44Z")
> [@JRDelirious](#): > > Actually that is one of the big underlying assumptions the likes of Gaetz, Trump and their close circle rest upon and want to reinforce - that _everyone_ given the chance would do the same crooked or immoral things, and enforcing the law about it is just about selectively putting people in their place. Everyone does it, so it’s no problem if we do, it’s so unfair to call us on it. Yeah, that’s the go-to trope of criminals, “Everybody does it! I just got caught!” They really believe this, all evidence to the contrary. In their narcissistic pea-sized brains, they can’t imagine that most people actually aren’t corrupt or criminal. ---
**Author:** ![Red\_Wiggler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/red_wiggler/32/13190_2.png) [@Red\_Wiggler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Red_Wiggler)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2021, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/matt-gaetz-being-investigated-for-sex-with-17-year-old-girl-doj-declines-to-charge-2023-02-15/939052/95 "2021-04-02T16:30:58Z")
Multiple reports hitting twitter that Gaetz’s communications director has resigned. ---
**Author:** ![Euphonious\_Polemic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/euphonious_polemic/32/3002_2.png) [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2021, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/matt-gaetz-being-investigated-for-sex-with-17-year-old-girl-doj-declines-to-charge-2023-02-15/939052/96 "2021-04-02T17:28:41Z")
[Relevant article](https://www.forbes.com/sites/andrewsolender/2021/04/02/top-gaetz-staffer-resigns-as-more-revelations-about-doj-probe-emerge/?sh=49ff9f6f3ab7) > Ball, who has worked for Gaetz since he first entered office in 2017, resigned “out of principle,” according to NBC News, which first [reported](https://twitter.com/ChrisJansing/status/1378000645026877443?s=20) his resignation citing an anonymous source. ---
**Author:** ![Euphonious\_Polemic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/euphonious_polemic/32/3002_2.png) [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2021, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/matt-gaetz-being-investigated-for-sex-with-17-year-old-girl-doj-declines-to-charge-2023-02-15/939052/97 "2021-04-02T17:32:25Z")
My guess is that Gaetz’s communications director told him to shut the hell up because he was digging himself into a hole. And Gaetz refused. As one commentator said, “He has the right to remain silent, but apparently lacks the ability to do so.” ---
**Author:** ![Euphonious\_Polemic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/euphonious_polemic/32/3002_2.png) [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2021, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/matt-gaetz-being-investigated-for-sex-with-17-year-old-girl-doj-declines-to-charge-2023-02-15/939052/98 "2021-04-02T17:35:17Z")
And a shout out to all those Republicans who have publicly called out this behavior. \< crickets \> And also to Fox news, who mentioned Hunter Biden 12 times in the last day, and Gaetz 0 times. Republicans; “sex trafficking of minors across state lines is no big deal, right?” ---
**Author:** ![Morgyn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/morgyn/32/3041_2.png) [@Morgyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgyn)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2021, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/matt-gaetz-being-investigated-for-sex-with-17-year-old-girl-doj-declines-to-charge-2023-02-15/939052/99 "2021-04-02T17:43:10Z")
Ron White said that in one of his routines about being thrown out of a bar. It’s a good line; nice to see someone remembers it. ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Borgia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/larry_borgia/32/156_2.png) [@Larry\_Borgia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Borgia)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2021, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/matt-gaetz-being-investigated-for-sex-with-17-year-old-girl-doj-declines-to-charge-2023-02-15/939052/100 "2021-04-02T17:49:36Z")
The Onion weighs in. > **[Matt Gaetz Claims Sex Trafficking Allegations Stem From Powerful Enemies In...](https://www.theonion.com/matt-gaetz-claims-sex-trafficking-allegations-stem-from-1846606928)** > > WASHINGTON—Dismissing the accusations as a conspiracy by his political opponents to take him down, Rep. Matt Gaetz reportedly claimed Friday that allegations of sex trafficking levied against him stemmed from powerful enemies in Ms. Bassman’s... [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=4) [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=6)