Matt Gaetz and his friend are very bad at technology
We now have the digital receipts and it appears Florida GOP Congressman Matt Gaetz and his former tax collector friend don't understand the concepts of "consequences," "technology," "digital paper trails," the "laws of the United States of America," or, more generally, "ethics."
The Justice Department is reportedly investigating the staunch Trump ally's connections to a scheme that included paying for sex, sex trafficking, and paying for sex with a minor, according to the New York Times. The Timeshas reviewed Apple Pay and Cash App receipts that show Gaetz and his friend paid women, who later told their friends it was for sex. The Timesalso viewed text messages with further details about the investigation. The Justice Department inquiry reportedly launched during the waning days of the Trump administration.
Gaetz, for his part, has denied paying for sex, and released a very Trumpian statement to that effect to the New York Times. “Matt Gaetz has never paid for sex,” it reportedly said. “Matt Gaetz refutes all the disgusting allegations completely. Matt Gaetz has never ever been on any such websites whatsoever. Matt Gaetz cherishes the relationships in his past and looks forward to marrying the love of his life.”
The other upstanding citizen involved in the sex trafficking allegations is Gaetz pal and former local Florida tax official, Joel Greenberg (see a chummy photo of these bros in a tweet below). Elected in 2016, Greenberg resigned his post in June 2020 after being indicted for stalking a political rival. The Justice Department added child sex trafficking charges to this absolute gem of a human's legal troubles in August.
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In his short time in office, Greenberg proved himself a member of the Florida brain trust by getting himself embroiled in multiple scandals and potential illegalities, as the Washington Postreports. The actions themselves range from corrupt to idiotic to repugnant, and Greenberg made it easier for himself to get caught by thoughtlessly using and abusing technology.
Greenberg's alleged scandals include: Using public funds to buy a $90,000 server room "to benefit a cryptocurrency company he created."
The tech-enabled alleged scandals include:
Using public funds to buy a $90,000 server room "to benefit a cryptocurrency company he created," according to the Post. The rig overloaded a circuit breaker in a county building, causing a fire that cost nearly $7,000 in (uninsured) damages. Neat!
Trying to convince a police officer to not give him a speeding ticket by flashing his tax collector badge, saying it would be a bad look for a public official. The officer's body camera of course recorded the exchange.
Accessing a state database to look at the personal info of people he was in a "sugar daddy" relationship with "including a minor victim between the ages of 14 and 17," also according to the Post report. He also used driver's licenses discarded at his office to make fake ids for himself, according to the Orlando Sentinel.
Using his wife's Snapchat account to track her location while she was trying to get away from him. This caused him to travel across state lines and violate the terms of his bail.
Creating fake Facebook and Instagram accounts to accuse his political rival — a teacher — of racism. He impersonated other teachers, claiming the rival was a "segregationist." And just for fun, Greenberg has published plenty of bigoted posts on his own social media channels.
The actions almost sound like a couple of entitled white men grew themselves an inflated sense of untouchability during the period of 2016 to 2020, doesn't it? I wonder what could have given them that idea. In any case, Congressman Matt Gaetz clearly has really good judgment in tech-savvy friends.
Enjoy the legal shitstorm, Florida man!