Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News Editorials & Other Articles General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

Nevilledog

(55,080 posts)
Sat Aug 21, 2021, 10:36 PM Aug 2021

Matt Gaetz eloped





https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2021/08/matt-gaetz-ginger-luckey-eloped


Coming off a sweep through the Midwest that included stops at the Iowa State Fair and a rally in Des Moines with Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene, Matt Gaetz got married. In a quiet ceremony on Catalina Island off the coast of California, Gaetz and Ginger Luckey tied the knot. For a guy who craves the spotlight, the event was uncharacteristically understated. Aside from former Rand Paul staffer Sergio Gor, who took up the dual role of officiant and DJ, and war room hosts Raheem Kassam and Natalie Winters, few political personas were in attendance. Luckey’s brother, Palmer, and his partner, Nicole––who arrived on the former’s decommissioned naval vessel—and Nestor Galban, Gaetz’s adopted son, represented the family. About 30 other friends “from normal life” rounded out the party. Gaetz cooked for the group, serving up a menu of BBQ chicken legs, grilled vegetables, and a watermelon salad.

The elopement was something of a surprise. The couple had previously planned to get married next August—or so they told me on a sticky summer afternoon late last month, when I met the two in the lobby bar of New York City’s Ace Hotel. Amidst a tornado of scandal for the congressman — the behavior he’s been accused of ranges from gross to potentially illegal and includes, but is not limited to, sex trafficking of a minor; sharing nude photos of women with his colleagues on the House floor; taking a sex-fueled jaunt to the Bahamas; and drug use — I was there to meet Luckey and, their hope was, to expand the public understanding of her beyond “that poor girl marrying Matt Gaetz.”

New York City isn’t known as the friendliest territory for Republicans with Gaetz’s level of opprobrium, and he dressed the part when we met. Clad in a casual cotton T-shirt and a baseball cap pulled low, Gaetz hardly fit the part of the bombastic firebrand who rode Donald Trump’s coattails to the upper echelon of MAGAworld—no Fox News bronze or overly coiffed bouffant in sight. But it’s clear that Washington, D.C., is no longer friendly territory either. Just days after our meeting, Gaetz was hounded off during a press conference. “Are you a pedophile?” a woman could be heard repeatedly shouting in videos of the incident. For years Gaetz enjoyed the shelter afforded to a lawmaker who spent most of his time brownnosing the president, but the Biden era has seen him fall under federal investigation.

Gaetz has denied all wrongdoing. He will tell you, emphatically, as he sits at a high-top table at the Ace Hotel, “I have fewer on-record accusers than Joe Biden.” As the investigation continues, he’s taking cues from the former president. “I have seen so much in politics: people distracted, dismayed, disoriented by bad coverage,” he said. “In a way Trump was an inspiration for me because despite whatever they were saying about him—with foreign intelligence services, with the DOJ—he had a determination to say what he was gonna say and share his vision for the country.”

*snip*

36 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Matt Gaetz eloped (Original Post) Nevilledog Aug 2021 OP
LOL yeah, not weird at all. SunSeeker Aug 2021 #1
... Nevilledog Aug 2021 #26
... SunSeeker Aug 2021 #29
Puke alert CurtEastPoint Aug 2021 #2
About my feeling. Apparently a match made in a sewer. Hortensis Aug 2021 #33
Since when is he "normal"? BigmanPigman Aug 2021 #3
Shifting assets prior to indictment? SheltieLover Aug 2021 #4
Bingo! Generic Brad Aug 2021 #36
So she went for the hire-on bonus. Maru Kitteh Aug 2021 #5
Now she can't testify CanonRay Aug 2021 #6
Winner winner chicken dinner. We now have spousal privilege NightWatcher Aug 2021 #16
I'm pretty sure that spousal privilege doesn't apply teach1st Aug 2021 #19
Ianal, but I think that's somewhat inaccurate unblock Aug 2021 #24
Exactly right CanonRay Aug 2021 #25
This ☝️☝️☝️ dixiechiken1 Aug 2021 #18
You beat me to it. :) frogmarch Aug 2021 #23
I'm guessing someone had a recent birthday.. denbot Aug 2021 #7
Ewwwwwww ellie Aug 2021 #8
A beard marriage to look less pedo Thomas Hurt Aug 2021 #9
Begs the question what her motives are. babylonsister Aug 2021 #10
A prerequisite for conjugal visitation. Marcuse Aug 2021 #11
This means she doesn't have to testify against him ? JI7 Aug 2021 #12
That was my guess gratuitous Aug 2021 #13
Ok, what's the angle here? smirkymonkey Aug 2021 #14
A wife can't be pressured... LowerManhattanite Aug 2021 #17
Ok, so one down. smirkymonkey Aug 2021 #35
Probably thinks it makes him look less pervy Major Nikon Aug 2021 #22
Wedding pic: Meet Matt's new bride Budi Aug 2021 #15
OK, for me that picture says it all NJCher Aug 2021 #28
Wow. Who does a creep shot of their own fiance? SunSeeker Aug 2021 #30
After seeing this picture, Prof. Toru Tanaka Aug 2021 #32
Let's start a pool on how long it lasts. greatauntoftriplets Aug 2021 #20
About one week after he goes to prison Major Nikon Aug 2021 #21
Who's else thought, he is trying to hide evidence ??? RANDYWILDMAN Aug 2021 #27
To keep this person from testifying against him LetMyPeopleVote Aug 2021 #31
Well, that's nice. Now he might have at least one visitor in prison. Vinca Aug 2021 #34

Hortensis

(58,785 posts)
33. About my feeling. Apparently a match made in a sewer.
Sun Aug 22, 2021, 06:11 AM
Aug 2021

Reportedly, the strongest factor in choosing a partner is similar outlooks. Yuck.

BigmanPigman

(55,137 posts)
3. Since when is he "normal"?
Sat Aug 21, 2021, 10:41 PM
Aug 2021

"About 30 other friends “from normal life” rounded out the party. Gaetz cooked for the group, serving up a menu of BBQ chicken legs, grilled vegetables, and a watermelon salad."

Maru Kitteh

(31,761 posts)
5. So she went for the hire-on bonus.
Sat Aug 21, 2021, 10:43 PM
Aug 2021

I hope her lawyer is better than his.


Not that I wish her any kind of fortune, I just wish him less than her.


teach1st

(6,024 posts)
19. I'm pretty sure that spousal privilege doesn't apply
Sat Aug 21, 2021, 11:16 PM
Aug 2021

I'm pretty sure that spousal privilege doesn't apply to crimes that occur before a marriage.

unblock

(56,198 posts)
24. Ianal, but I think that's somewhat inaccurate
Sat Aug 21, 2021, 11:54 PM
Aug 2021

My understanding is that someone generally can't be compelled to testify against a spouse. Exceptions I believe are based on the nature of the crime (such as child abuse or domestic violence) but not on the time of the crime.

Separately, if a spouse is already testifying, the other spouse can prevent them from testifying about communications that happened during the marriage. This is where is agree with what you said, if someone confesses a crime to a fiancée, that communication is not privileged even if they later get married.

However, once they are married, they might not be able to compel them to testify at all. Again, though, child abuse may be an exception.

 

smirkymonkey

(63,221 posts)
14. Ok, what's the angle here?
Sat Aug 21, 2021, 10:59 PM
Aug 2021

This is definitely NOT about love, so what is the real reason for this quickie, private wedding?

Also, is she fucking out of her mind?

 

smirkymonkey

(63,221 posts)
35. Ok, so one down.
Sun Aug 22, 2021, 09:08 AM
Aug 2021

I am sure there are plenty of other even more important witnesses, unless there is something REALLY strange going on here, and she is involved in the whole thing in some way.

NJCher

(43,165 posts)
28. OK, for me that picture says it all
Sun Aug 22, 2021, 01:30 AM
Aug 2021

He posts a picture of his fiancee/wife asleep in such unflattering position?

And look at his eye: soulless, cold, unfeeling.

Prof. Toru Tanaka

(2,926 posts)
32. After seeing this picture,
Sun Aug 22, 2021, 05:34 AM
Aug 2021


she just might secretly decide to testify against him after all!

(and spring it on him at the last minute, of course!)

RANDYWILDMAN

(3,163 posts)
27. Who's else thought, he is trying to hide evidence ???
Sun Aug 22, 2021, 01:19 AM
Aug 2021

How long and what is the payoff for the beard wife ??????


This guy is a creep and a freak and you know he did all they said and worse. He is the frat kid you KNOW from college who will be arrested one day For SURE!!

Vinca

(53,994 posts)
34. Well, that's nice. Now he might have at least one visitor in prison.
Sun Aug 22, 2021, 06:39 AM
Aug 2021

Ms. Luckey will probably get lucky with a perfect reason for divorcing the guy and claiming half his assets.

Latest Discussions»General Discussion»Matt Gaetz eloped