This $100,000 Donation by Matt Gaetz Raises All the Eyebrows

[Nevilledog]

https://www.thedailybeast.com/this-dollar100000-donation-by-matt-gaetz-raises-all-the-eyebrows


On the day Donald Trump’s second impeachment trial began in the Senate, the campaign for embattled Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL)—reportedly under federal investigation since the summer for alleged sex crimes with an underage teen—made by far its largest ever political contribution: $100,000 to a mysterious nonprofit created to defend the then-president.

While that donation may not sound out of the ordinary, it stands out for a number of reasons. For one, the size of the donation is curious: It’s double the amount of Gaetz’s second-largest donation ever, and it’s $22,000 more than the campaign’s combined gifts to close ally Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL). For another, the nonprofit appears to have done nothing now for more than a year. And even odder is the Gaetz campaign’s own explanation—which experts say raises questions of legality.

The group, “Right Direction America,” is a nonprofit launched in December 2019 by Trump ally and former Gov. Chris Christie (R-NJ) as a 501(c)4—a so-called “dark money” social welfare organization which doesn’t have to disclose its donors but cannot participate primarily in political activity. Christie billed the group as a vehicle to drum up public support for Trump during his first impeachment trial in the Senate.

But that’s not why the Gaetz campaign says it donated to Right Direction America. A campaign spokesperson told The Daily Beast that the organization supports former White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders, who two weeks prior to the Gaetz donation had announced her 2022 campaign for governor of Arkansas.

*snip*

[SheltieLover]

1. K&R!

[Thomas Hurt]

2. quid pro quo for a pardon...money went straight to the Pig I bet.

and the Pig stiffed him, of course.

[lagomorph777]

3. Definitely trying to buy a pardon.

Should've saved his money for a lawyer.

[UTUSN]

4. Always the same repulsive names: Drumpf, CHRISTIE, Huckabee-S

[Pinback]

7. Yeah, Christie the "moderate" Republican.

The one who keeps coming back for more abuse. What a sick bunch.

[NonPC]

8. Christie Is Loitering and Waiting for Scraps

He figures if he keeps sucking up to the flavors of the month, he'll get another gig...

[UTUSN]

9. "back for more abuse" - nailed! He's so pathetic, blatantly chases after the biggest names & they

shun him, which would be humiliating for a self-respecting individual.

He chased after Bruce SPRINGSTEEN, a-hole Cowboys owner Jerry JONES, not to mention Drumpf. When he goes on talk shows, crawls for COLBERT.

Just shameless and pathetic.

[TeamProg]

5. more news not reported at Faux News. n/t

[rickyhall]

6. Stuff that should be illegal as are all "dark money" business.

"Dark money" is a nicer term than "bribery", I guess.

[Mr.Bill]

10. How crooked do you have to be that the only person who will

launder money for you is Matt Gaetz?

[Blue Owl]

11. Shit can catch up to Matt Gaetz any day now

How long is this depraved, criminal sex fiend gonna skate free anyways?

[GoCubsGo]

12. I smell straw donations.

Which are highly illegal.