The . [94] Observers have described his views as far right. Master Sgt. [170] Gaetz was one of three representatives to offer Rittenhouse a Congressional internship. Bill clears first hurdle in state House", "Gaetz: Open carrying of guns is a right granted by God", "Rep. Gaetz: Second Amendment not negotiable", "Matt Gaetz: Second Amendment Exists for 'Armed Rebellion Against the Government', "Video shows Rep. Gaetz blasting Silicon Valley and blustering about gun rights in the next breath", "Ted Lieu comes after Matt Gaetz following rally remarks about Silicon Valley", "No evidence to prove Medicaid expansion fueled opioid crisis", "Matt Gaetz Brings Out the Digital Health Pass Prevention Act", "Matt Gaetz Wore Gas Mask To Mock Coronavirus Concerns. Gaetz's new communications director, Joel Valdez, told Forbes that "all of the office's eight female staffers signed it", but the version of the statement that was released did not have anyone's signature or identify any specific employee. "[196], Gaetz opposes abortion. [77] On July 1, 2020, the Office of Congressional Ethics notified Gaetz it had terminated its review of the lease arrangements. [176], During a May 2021 "America First" rally with Marjorie Taylor Greene, Gaetz told an audience: "We have a Second Amendment in this country, and I think we have an obligation to use it!" I got the Florida variant. We need PATRIOTS who will defend her"[167] in support of Kyle Rittenhouse, a 17-year-old from Antioch, Illinois, who traveled to Kenosha, Wisconsin, and shot and killed two people and injured another claiming self-defense during the riots that occurred during the protests of the Jacob Blake shooting. [131][132], Gaetz said of then-U.S. attorney general Jeff Sessions that "over at the Department of Justice, he's got Stockholm syndrome, he's become sympathetic with his captors over there in the Deep State. The Pentagon has identified the two U.S. Army Green Berets killed on Wednesday during combat operations in northern Afghanistan. [298], In December 2020, Gaetz announced his engagement to his girlfriend, Ginger Luckey, the sister of Oculus VR founder and major Republican donor Palmer Luckey. Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) speaks during a news conference to announce the 'Green Real Deal' on April 3, 2019 in Washington, DC. Matthew Louis Gaetz II (/ets/ GAYTS; born May 7, 1982) is an American lawyer and politician who has served as the U.S. representative for Florida's 1st congressional district since 2017. "[152], In 2016, Gaetz acknowledged global warming but said he disagrees with the scientific consensus on climate change that human activity is the primary cause. 3843: Merger Filing Fee Modernization Act of 2022 House Vote #460 Sep 29, 2022", "Lawmaker's talk of mug shot raises questions about DUI arrest", "These Text Messages Pointed the Feds to Matt Gaetz", "Matt Gaetz Is Said to Face Justice Dept. [53] During the tour, Gaetz and Greene repeated debunked claims of fraud in the 2020 election, attacked Big Tech and, at one event, claimed that the Second Amendment was for "maintaining, within the citizenry, the ability to maintain an armed rebellion against the government, if that becomes necessary. [2] Gaetz was an early supporter of Donald Trump and his appeal to the Republican Party base, echoing his talking points. [37] This virtually assured Gaetz of victory in the general election; with a Cook Partisan Voting Index of R+22, the 1st is Florida's most Republican district, and one of the most Republican in the nation. Sexual assault on minors and then paying them off was a war what happens for his own exposure to. [245] The next day, Trump publicly denied that Gaetz had asked him for a pardon. [185] Several journalists characterized the decision as a stunt. Greene has been publicly harassing people she opposes for years. [111][112][113], In April 2018, Politico called Gaetz "one of the most enthusiastic defenders of President Trump on cable news" and a "proud Trump protg". . [149] Very early into the 118th Congress, Gaetz cosponsored another resolution to impeach Mayorkas. [211][212], Gaetz voted against Consolidated Appropriations Act (H.R. Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) announced Thursday, on the first anniversary of the deadly attack on the U.S. Capitol, that he was "ashamed of nothing" and that he and Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) planned to retrace the steps of the rioters as if leading the faithful through the Holy Land. [217][218] The week before, he claimed without evidence that "FBI operatives organized and participated in the January 6th Capitol riot. "I. ", "Fear distracts, divides and dehumanizes us. '"[197][198] A Texas teenager tweeted a post mocking Gaetz, who responded with a photo of her that, according to NPR, implied his comments had touched a nerve; she used the incident to raise over $2 million for abortion funds. [203][204], On February 27, 2018, Gaetz voted against the Allow States and Victims to Fight Online Sex Trafficking Act, which had by then been combined with the Stop Enabling Sex Traffickers Act. He added, "it should be investigations [of Democrats] first[and] policy, bill-making, to support the lobbyists and the PACs, as a far, far diminished priority. These include September 2018 text messages between Greenberg and a woman engaging in prostitution, which indicate that a prostitute was arranged for Gaetz and that the drug MDMA may have been proffered. On March 10, he said his test was negative, but that he would stay under self-quarantine until the 14-day period ended on March 12. [89] After midnight, January 7, on the 15th and last ballot, Gaetz switched his vote to "present", lowering the number of votes McCarthy needed and allowing him to win the speakership. Gaetz's grandfather, Jerry Gaetz, was the mayor of Rugby, North Dakota, and a candidate for lieutenant governor of North Dakota at the 1964 North Dakota Republican Party state convention, where he died of a heart attack. The anti-McCarthy members withheld more than four votes through 14 ballots. Pedophile Matt Gaetz accused Four Star General Mark Milley, Green Beret and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs under both Trump and Biden of being "woke." General Milley put frat boy Gaetz in his place. [205], On July 26, 2022, Gaetz voted against the Frederick Douglass Trafficking Victims Prevention and Protection Reauthorization Act, which passed 40120. [193], On December 4, 2020, Gaetz attended an indoor New York Young Republicans Club conference in Jersey City, New Jersey, during a period of surging COVID-19 cases throughout the state and the country. On Tuesday night, The New York Times alleged that Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) is "under investigation over possible sex trafficking" of a minor. [224][225], In 2008, Gaetz was arrested for driving under the influence as he was driving back from a nightclub on Okaloosa Island, Florida. Tour Request Flag Request Internship Application Casework Request Military Academies Veterans History Project "[137] A day later, Jordan appeared on Fox News to justify the intrusion, saying of the chair of the committee: "Adam Schiff is doing this unfair, partisan process in secret and our members finally said, 'Enough'. Feb 24. He was reelected unopposed in 2012[21] and 2014. [145] Gaetz voted against the second impeachment of Donald Trump. Mike was born in Boynton Beach, FL and grew up in Jacksonville, Florida. [3] In 2016, he was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives, and was reelected in 2018, 2020, and 2022. "[96], Gaetz has introduced legislation to reclassify cannabis from Schedule I to Schedule III under the Controlled Substances Act. [280][281] According to Greenberg, he made the arrangements for Gaetz. We need PATRIOTS who will defend her. Gaetz claimed he heard those sentiments "most frequently from units that are majority minority." At this point, Army Gen. Mark Milley tried to offer his view, but was rudely cut-off by Gaetz. Beattie had previously been fired as a speechwriter for the Trump administration after attending a conference associated with white nationalists. So if Marjorie Taylor Greene and Matt Gaetz ever . by | Jan 30, 2023 | shortest flight from us to australia | the adventurer: the curse of the midas box sequel | Jan 30, 2023 | shortest flight from us to australia | the adventurer: the curse of the midas box sequel Gabrielle Fonrouge. Gaetz, who is being investigated by federal authorities for potential child sex trafficking charges and could reportedly be indicted as soon as next month, launched a Twitter attack on Milley. "[183] It was sent to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce. I got the freedom variant. [105], In November 2019, Gaetz was one of only two Republicans on the House Judiciary Committee to vote for the Marijuana Opportunity Reinvestment and Expungement (MORE) Act, which among other reforms would remove cannabis from the Controlled Substances Act. In August 2021, Gaetz co-sponsored a resolution by Andy Biggs to impeach Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas. "[134], In October 2019, Gaetz organized a "storming" of a Sensitive Compartmented Information Facility on Capitol Hill by about two dozen Republican congressmen, including House minority whip Steve Scalise, in an effort to sit in on and hear the deposition of a Pentagon official during the impeachment inquiry against Trump. Their withholding of votes prevented McCarthy earning a majority of votes needed for the speakership. [273][274], On April 9, 2021, the House Ethics Committee opened an investigation into allegations that Gaetz "may have engaged in sexual misconduct and/or illicit drug use, shared inappropriate images or videos on the House floor, misused state identification records, converted campaign funds to personal use, and/or accepted a bribe, improper gratuity, or impermissible gift". Gaetz made two speeches for the organization while in Congress, and Pirozzolo gave two separate donations of $1,000 to Gaetz's campaign arm "Friends of Matt Gaetz", in March 2016 and May 2017. [206], Gaetz opposes sanctuary cities, which opt not to dedicate local law enforcement resources to prosecuting people solely for being undocumented. [234] The same day, The New York Times reported the Justice Department's investigation of Gaetz. The 'Green Real Deal' is a resolution intended to serve as a response . Several years ago, I had the chance to pay this brave Green Beret, SFC Martin Acosta, a visit at Walter Reed Hospital after he was severely injured in Afghanistan. [90], Gaetz has self-identified as a "libertarian populist". The Florida congressman has been under investigation for months amid a sex trafficking probe . He then said this meant allowing Americans "the ability to maintain an armed rebellion against the government if that becomes necessary. [189], On April 14, Gaetz said the Wuhan Institute of Virology "birthed a monster", a reference to the theory that COVID-19 was leaked out of a Chinese research lab. Congressman Mike Waltz represents North Central Florida, is a Colonel in the National Guard, a combat-decorated Green Beret, former White House and Pentagon policy advisor, a small business owner, an author, and a proud father. Joel Valdez, a senior communications aide to Gaetz, posted a video on Parler hours before the storming of the Capitol with the caption "From the top of the Capitol office buildings, WE HEAR YOU LOUD AND CLEAR! The ex-girlfriend was in an open relationship with Gaetz in 2017 and 2018 and allegedly discussed other women he was involved with, according to three friends of the former couple. His refusal also did not lead to a criminal prosecution, during which it could have been used against him. The U.S.-based EcoHealth Alliance that worked with the Institute under a grant the Trump administration approved eventually had that funding withdrawn. Murphy also said state officials were investigating whether the event violated the state's COVID-19 regulations. Luis F. Deleon-Figueroa, 31, and Master Sgt. This isn't the first time Gaetz has exercised poor judgement in the sorts of photographs he poses for. [19] During his campaign, Gaetz received almost $480,000 in contributions, about five times more than anyone else in the field, and almost 50 times more than Fernald, including $100,000 of his own money. [256] Gaetz sent Axios screenshots of text messages, emails and documents outlining the alleged extortion scheme, which he asserted was being run by David McGee,[257] a former federal prosecutor who has been a private attorney since 2005[258] and has represented the Levinson family. [277][278] Later in June, ABC News reported that the investigation had engulfed many in the Central Florida political scene and that prosecutors could decide whether to bring charges against Gaetz as early as July. The scandal engulfing Matt Gaetz, one of Donald Trump's brashest supporters in Congress, deepened on Friday after an associate admitted sex trafficking involving a minor and agreed to cooperate. The sender demanded millions of dollars to help secure the release of U.S. federal agent Robert Levinson (who had disappeared in Iran in 2007 and had already been presumed and declared dead),[250][251] proposing that President Joe Biden would pardon Gaetz as a reward for freeing Levinson. Matt Gaetz, a member of the 117th Congress, is currently serving his third term in the U.S. House of Representatives. [246] Greenberg attempted to bribe Roger Stone with a $250,000 Bitcoin payment to secure a presidential pardon, texting Stone, "They know [Gaetz] paid me to pay the girls and that he and I both had sex with the girl who was underage. [75] In August 2019, the Florida Bar announced it had found no probable cause that Gaetz had violated its rules. [267] The next day, his communications director, Luke Ball, and his legislative director, Devin Murphy, resigned. [282] Greenberg's sentencing hearing was originally scheduled for August 2021,[283] but due to his cooperation in related investigations, had been repeatedly delayed. "[208] In January 2018, Gaetz defended a statement by Trump that reportedly said Haiti and African nations were "shithole" countries, saying that Haiti was covered by "sheet metal and garbage" and in "disgusting" condition. A member of the Republican Party, he is widely regarded as a staunch proponent of far-right . Watch: Marjorie Taylor Greene and Matt Gaetz Get Heckled off the Stage While Defending Capitol Rioters. Matt Gaetz is NOT a Green Beret or a Freedom Fighter Michele Dotson 54 subscribers Subscribe 650 Share 71K views 1 year ago Brian Williams claps back HARD at Matt Gaetz for trolling. Asked to clarify, he said his "tweet speaks for itself". [271] On April 8, it was revealed that Trump had reportedly wanted to defend Gaetz but was told to stand down due to the seriousness of the allegations. Things to know about congressman accused of threatening Michael Cohen", "Member Profile Matthew Louis Gaetz II", "GOP lawmaker Don Gaetz is rising fast as a state Senate leader", "Law School Alums Looking To Distance Themselves As Much As Humanly Possible From Matt Gaetz", "How Matt Gaetz used daddy's money to become Trump's favorite congressman", "Matt Gaetz labelled 'delinquent' for failing to pay Florida bar association fees", "Florida House Speaker Ray Sansom resigns", "April 13, 2010 Special General Congressional 19 & House 4", "Florida House approves speeding up executions", "Ethanol Fuels To Evaporate Under House Bill", "Florida Congressman Drafts Bill To 'Completely Abolish' The EPA", "Rick Scott Signs Ethanol Bill Repealing Required Percentage Statute", "Act of revenge? [44], In January 2018, Gaetz invited alt-right Holocaust denier Charles C. Johnson to attend Donald Trump's State of the Union address. [174] In lobbying for the bill, he said that the open carry of weapons was a right "granted not by government but by God. Certain members of the Freedom Caucus, including Gaetz, could contribute the required margin. [207] Upon announcing his run for Congress in 2016, he said that illegal immigrants were "sucking us dry. He was seen posing for photos in a crowd of unmasked attendees, prompting New Jersey governor Phil Murphy and Jersey City mayor Steven Fulop to publicly condemn him. [25][156], In November 2017, Gaetz joined the bipartisan Climate Solutions Caucus. Inquiry Over Sex With an Underage Girl", "New details shed light on Gaetz's Bahamas trip", "DOJ Investigation Focusing on Matt Gaetz's Alleged Payments for Sex: Report", "Federal investigation into Rep. Matt Gaetz is focused on cash payments to women, report says", "Indicted Gaetz Associate Is Said to Be Cooperating With Justice Dept", "Joel Greenberg, the former confidant of Matt Gaetz, pleaded guilty to a range of crimes", "Rep. Matt Gaetz eyes early retirement from Congress to take job at Newsmax", "Investigation of Matt Gaetz includes whether campaign funds were used to pay for travel and expenses", "Justice Dept. On August 30, 2016, Gaetz won the Republican primary with 35.7 percent of the vote to Greg Evers's 21.5 percent and Cris Dosev's 20.6 percent, along with five other candidates. Rep. Michael Waltz (R-Fla.), a former Army Green Beret, raised the incorporation of critical race theory at West Point, including a course that includes the theory in its syllabus. [50], In February 2020, Gaetz announced that he would no longer accept campaign contributions from federal political action committees. He claimed that the decision was an example of "judicial activism" that posed "a threat to our democracy". Gaetz had allegedly claimed to have slept with the women in the photos. In one of the darkest scandals in Special Forces history, the Green Beret Affair of 1969 lives in infamy in U.S. Army history. [251], Also on March 30, Tucker Carlson interviewed Gaetz on Fox News. Rep. Matt Gaetz, a Republican of Florida. [223], In 2022, Gaetz was one of 39 Republicans to vote for the Merger Filing Fee Modernization Act of 2022, an antitrust package that would crack down on corporations for anti-competitive behavior. [165], On June 1, 2020, during the nationwide George Floyd protests, Gaetz tweeted, "Now that we clearly see antifa as terrorists, can we hunt them down like we do those in the Middle East?" [46] Gaetz defended Johnson in an interview, saying that Johnson was neither a Holocaust denier nor a white supremacist. 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