Gaetz investigation complicated by overture to his father about ex-FBI agent who went missing - WP

[MerryHolidays]

This doesn't sound like extortion. Instead, it sounds like distortion: Gaetz is trying to deflect massively.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/matt-gaetz-investigation-robert-levinson/2021/03/31/ebe2a9ba-923e-11eb-9668-89be11273c09_story.html

By
Matt Zapotosky and
Devlin Barrett

March 31, 2021 at 9:14 p.m. UTC

Rep. Matt Gaetz, a Florida Republican known for his fierce allegiance to former president Donald Trump, had been under Justice Department investigation for months for a possible sex crime when two men approached his father with a proposal, people familiar with the matter said.

The men had learned of the investigation, they wrote to Don Gaetz, and wanted to offer an opportunity to help his son, the people said. He could give a huge sum of money to fund their effort to locate Robert A. Levinson — the longest held American hostage in Iran whose family has said they were told he is dead. If the operation was a success, he would win favor with the U.S. government and help alleviate Matt Gaetz’s legal woes.

But Don Gaetz, a prominent Florida Republican who once led the state Senate, viewed the communication suspiciously, the people said, speaking on the condition of anonymity to describe a continuing and politically sensitive probe. The investigation into Matt Gaetz’s alleged crime — he is suspected of having sex with a 17-year-old girl, as well as funding her travel — was not public knowledge. Fearing his family was being extorted, Don Gaetz contacted the FBI.

[Midnight Writer]

1. A tried and true method to stop the connection of dots is to add more and more dots.

[NanceGreggs]

2. Well put. n/t

[magicarpet]

3. When there is no defense,... try deflect....

[ecstatic]

4. interesting. lol. What an idiot!

The folks who approached daddy gaetz were grifting, but it doesn't sound like they were suggesting that they had the power to drop the case. It sounds like they were saying the US government *might* view baby Gaetz more favorably if they helped bring the hostage home, which, of course, was BS.

Huge deflection indeed!

[riversedge]

6. Gaetz has a big mouth.

[riversedge]

5. Matt is sure trying to pull a good one!! But, that said Gaetz is under investigation-

Gaetz investigation complicated by overture to his father about ex-FBI agent who went missing
Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) speaks during a House Judiciary Committee markup of the articles of impeachment against President Donald Trump in 2019
Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) speaks during a House Judiciary Committee markup of the articles of impeachment against President Donald Trump in 2019 (Pool/Reuters)
By
Matt Zapotosky and
Devlin Barrett
March 31, 2021 at 4:14 p.m. CDT

R........................

Rep. Matt Gaetz faces Justice Dept. investigation over alleged sex with teen girl

The messy political drama has in some ways diverted attention from a grim reality for the congressman. He remains under investigation for possible sex crimes, leaving him vulnerable to potentially serious legal jeopardy.


The men who approached Gaetz’s father, people familiar with the matter said, had no apparent connection to the sex crimes investigation of his son, other than having somehow learned about it before it was publicly reported. But when news of law enforcement’s interest in Gaetz surfaced Tuesday, the congressman asserted that the allegation was “rooted in an extortion effort against my family for $25 million,” and he identified by name a former federal prosecutor who he said was part of the effort.

While the Justice Department investigates possible sex crimes, the FBI is separately examining whether the request to his father about Levinson might constitute extortion, with Gaetz and his family as possible victims.................

https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/matt-gaetz-investigation-robert-levinson/2021/03/31/ebe2a9ba-923e-11eb-9668-89be11273c09_story.html