Florida man (actually Representative) Matt Gaetz received a very special award at a GOP Christmas party last week in Strongsville, Ohio. The award, which the oblivious Gaetz happily accepted before knowing what it was, was for “[his] dedication to using Venmo to allegedly pay underage girls to have sex with [him].”
Realizing the mistake, Gaetz can be heard saying something like “c’mon, you’re so full of it, man” to the prankster who presented the award. The prankster, who introduced himself simply as “Michael, with the Strongsville GOP,” was then pulled off the stage by security.
Gaetz, refusing to be further embarrassed, turned to the crowd, still holding “the award,” smiled and said “Thank you all so much.” After the event, he was quoted saying “Ohio has become the beating red heart of the Midwest, and so I’m here to celebrate with some of the activists.”
Gaetz, one of the leading voices of the House’s far-right Freedom Caucus, was the subject of a year-long investigation over whether he had sex with a 17-year-old and paid for her to travel with him. The investigation focused on his friend, another Florida man (and official), Joel Greenberg, who pleaded guilty to multiple counts involving underage girls.
During the investigation, news outlet The Daily Beast found Venmo transaction between the two men, as well as a letter written by Greenberg saying that he and Gaetz had paid for sex with multiple women, including a girl who was 17 at the time. The Department of Justice said in February that it would not bring charges against Gaetz. Greenberg was sentenced to 11 years in prison.
Gaetz, “the sleaze,” was also accused of sharing videos “of the girls he had slept with” on the House floor by fellow Republican Senator Markwayne Mullin from Oklahoma.
Information for this story was found via Newsweek, CNN, and the sources and companies mentioned. The author has no securities or affiliations related to the organizations discussed. Not a recommendation to buy or sell. Always do additional research and consult a professional before purchasing a security. The author holds no licenses.
