***Breaking*** The NYT has documents of Gaetz's thousands of dollars of payments to sex workers

[DemocratSinceBirth]

[SheltieLover]

1. Have they released them to the public?

Guessing not...

[Dennis Donovan]

2. Read my OP:

https://www.democraticunderground.com/100219746815

[polly pureblood]

3. As long as they are of legal age

IDGAF. You're against sex work? I'm talking about women (usually) choosing to do it. For some it's a leg 🦵 up. The low-wage hamster wheel existence is a dead end. Of course substance abuse is probably rampant but I once saw a fascinating video about a sex worker who was very on the ball, not getting high, saving her money.

[617Blue]

4. You need to troll better.

[Skittles]

8. right?

getting worse and worse

[Fullduplexxx]

14. The point , i think , is that a conservative family values god-fearin christian luvin republican

Is spending thousands of dollars on hookers

[meadowlander]

36. Is soliciting a prostitute still illegal in the US?

To me that's the key point, whether you think it should be or not. You're nominating someone to be the chief law enforcement officer in the land - maybe don't pick someone who has done tons of illegal shit.

I support legalizing marijuana but wouldn't support an AG who smoked tons of pot when it was illegal because he thought he was above laws he personally disagreed with. That shows a fundamental misunderstanding about how "the law" works.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

60. Virtually everyone has smoked weed.

For the analogy to be apt the Attorney General candidate wouldn't be your garden variety weed smoker but a weed trafficker.

[skypilot]

81. And looking to be Attorney General

*

[RandiFan1290]

15. Aww, bless your heart. nt

[mercuryblues]

18. I think

You're at the I'm not a witch phase.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

20. Then Mr. Gaetz should petition the states to change their laws or go to The Netherlands

[DemocratSinceBirth]

27. I don't make the laws.

The Attorney General is responsible for enforcing the laws. How can a habitual law breaker enforce the laws?

[polly pureblood]

31. I think the laws are lagging behind progress.

If I am not mistaken, Eric Holder was raiding marijuana farms in California during Obama's administration.

Ex: https://www.democraticunderground.com/1014801804

[DemocratSinceBirth]

33. He was the Attorney General. Enforcing the laws is part of the job description.

[polly pureblood]

38. The problem is overstepping

states' rights. We will have a different country in the future with a de-emphasized federal government.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

43. Sex work was illegal in the states where Mr. Gaetz was contracting it.

[Dave Bowman]

44. "states' rights"

Oh, you mean like the civil war which was about slavery although repubes like to claim that it was about states' rights, right, pureblood?

[DemocratSinceBirth]

51. Matt Gaetz also voted against the Repect For Marriage Act

So he thinks it should be unlawful for two people of the same gender to marry but it should be lawful for him to pay thousands and thousands of dollars to have women trafficked to him to sate his desires.

[bucolic_frolic]

22. For one thing it's the LAW, broken by a potential Attorney General of the USA /nt

[Skittles]

30. you are accusing DEMS of "puritanical bullshit"

while defending a SEX TRAFFICKER

WTF

[Prairie Gates]

34. No bridge is too far for them

No cognitive dissonance too dissonant.

Of course the United States Attorney General should have a history of paying 18 and 19 year old women for sex and engaging in orgies. Of course! What are you, some kind of prude?



The fucking shamelessness of it. The absolute brazen dishonesty and lack of a moral compass.

[Irish_Dem]

52. Perhaps you are on the wrong forum? We live in the US and are talking about US politicians.

We do not follow Netherlands' laws or customs.

[canuckledragger]

64. Sure you're not!🤣🤣🤣

[paleotn]

71. Yes, actually you are.

[Autumn]

5. One of them was 17. That's called statutory rape.

[polly pureblood]

21. I looked up that situation.

NBC News reported that a 17-year-old girl came to an exclusive sex party (invitation only) with her 19-year-old girlfriend. That suggests they were both sex workers. The older girl saw her friend having sex with Gaetz. She believed that he didn't know she was underage. This is crucial because he also did not have sex with her after that (at least when she was still a minor). Is he a sex addict? Very possibly if he's involved this scene to begin with. But there are also alcoholics and potheads. I don't want more restrictions and laws.

[Autumn]

26. Which part of she was 17 do you not understand Polly?

That is under the legal age of consent.

[polly pureblood]

41. You cannot condemn someone

for a crime they didn't know they were committing.

[RandiFan1290]

49. I'm going to miss you!!!

[Dave Bowman]

53. Yep, Polly is pining for the fjords.

[JustAnotherGen]

78. That one

Was pretty quick!

[kacekwl]

57. You are kidding

Right ?

[Autumn]

58. Any man with a pea size brain that is not stuck in his dick knows sex with a woman under the age of 18 is

statutory rape. Go to the store. Ask 20 guys what statutory rape is. 20 guys are going to tell you that having sex with anyone under the age of 18 is statutory rape. Gaetz being a lawyer , fucking damn well knows that.

[paleotn]

72. BWAAAHAHAAHAA! Yes, actually, you can.

[Ms. Toad]

96. That's the entire point of statutory rape laws.

Knowledge of age is completely irrelevant. If you have sex with someone legally unable to consent, it is rape.

[Straw Man]

103. Eh?

You cannot condemn someone

for a crime they didn't know they were committing.

Yes, you can. And by "you" I mean the legal system.

Pleading ignorance of the law is not a valid defense. It were, no one would ever be convicted of anything. There is no "Was that wrong?" clause.

[Skittles]

32. I'm sure you'd defend a Democrat doing the same crap

DO YOU REALLY THINK THIS ASSHOLE IS SUITABLE TO BE ATTORNEY GENERAL? I remember when repukes nixed a female candidate for failing to pay taxes on a nanny!!!

[Dave Bowman]

35. She was just seventeen, if you know what I mean.

And it is called Statutory rape.

[cliffside]

82. Seriously!!! You want a 'possible' sex addict to run the DOJ?

"Is he a sex addict? Very possibly if he's involved this scene to begin with. But there are also alcoholics and potheads. I don't want more restrictions and laws."

Welcome to DU, your time here will hopefully be limited.

[Jack Valentino]

105. It would be in Florida, which DOES have an 'age of consent' of 18. However, the vast majority of states

have basic ages of consent set at either 16 or 17 years of age. Those with the age set at 18 appear to be less than a third of the states:

See the map here:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Age_of_consent_in_the_United_States


Mostly it's a matter of state laws, and many states set conditions about "age differences" and "persons of authority" which may determine whether an act is statutory rape or not.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

6. Points

1.) I don't make the laws. 2.) The Attorney General's job is to execute the law. 3) Prostitution is illegal across the United States, save some counties in Nevada. 4.) One of the sex workers was a minor.

[Skittles]

7. do you not get it?

REPUKES ROUTINELY JUDGE THE MORALS OF OTHERS

[Biophilic]

9. Damn Polly, you're just mixing up with everybody.

So very busy.

[BeerBarrelPolka]

12. .

I think Polly wants a cracker

[Biophilic]

24. Thanks for the laugh.

[Dave Bowman]

39. Lol!

[blm]

13. Anti-vaxers and white nationalists

Like to call themselves pure bloods.

[Biophilic]

19. Then probably a perfect name for him or her. They've just been so busy today.

[boston bean]

16. There was a polly here some time ago

This thread has reminded me of that poster.

[gay texan]

29. I smell Pizza. N/T

[PCIntern]

37. Polly wants a pizza?

[dpibel]

59. Polly has left the building

Account status: Posting privileges revoked

[niyad]

73. That poster lasted longer than I thought they would, having spotted them

on Saturday.

[mainer]

10. It's not a big deal, except for the underage girl

That changes everything. Consensual adult sex, even for pay, shouldn’t be a crime.

[Prairie Gates]

47. Oh goddamn it: We have a major problem with human trafficking for sex in this country

And around the world. Adult and minor. A big problem. It is part of the job of the Attorney General to oversee agencies that seek to stop sex trafficking of minors and adults. To himself be involved in an interstate sex trade is a very big fucking deal when it comes to his judgment and ability to enforce the laws on this. I'm fucking speechless at the people waving this off. Would you want this guy teaching high school because the women he paid for sex and interstate travel were 18? Are you even fucking serious?

[mainer]

74. I said CONSENSUAL sex

Are you going to criminalize prostitution? What does consensual sex have to do with human trafficking?

Should we be in peoples’ bedrooms? Where’s the right to privacy?

[DemocratSinceBirth]

80. The allegation is that Gaetz was paying to have these women transported to him.

[JohnSJ]

83. Thank-you.

[Prairie Gates]

91. A 30-40 something guy is paying for 19 year olds to be transported to sex parties

And it's ho-hum, whatever, he can oversee agencies that seek to stop sex trafficking, whatever, it was consensual, tra la.

I feel like I'm in the fucking Twilight Zone! What the actual fuck?

Thank you for being a voice of reason here. My God.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

93. This has been litigated in the press.

When he was accused of having sex with a minor he said he didn't know. When he was accused of paying to have these women delivered to him he said the money was travel expenses for friends. This is all in the public domain.

[Klarkashton]

55. And in certain counties in Nevada.

Otherwise it's possible jail.

[proud patriot]

56. what a great name

NOT ... immediately checked the stinky profile .. Good Job DU team

[paleotn]

70. Dude....sex work IS a low-wage hamster wheel.

What? You've watched Pretty Woman too many times? Or is there something else going on?

[bucolic_frolic]

17. Paging Eliot Spitzer ........... /nt

[jojog]

23. He did not pay 17 YO directly

He paid a 3rd party who was trafficking.

[Autumn]

28. So he paid a trafficker for her. Sound like Gaetz and the trafficker should be in jail

[DemocratSinceBirth]

40. When he found out she was 17 he didnt have sex with her again until she was 18.

That makes him a GROOMER.

[Autumn]

45. Bless his little heart he waited till she was 18 to have sex with her. For the second time.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

50. After he GROOMED her.

[Autumn]

61. It's disgusting that we have a committee in the peoples house that hides elected officials crimes.

What pigs.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

68. What are we going to do, Autumn?

I'd like to believe we wouldn't support a Democrat who is a sex trafficker

[Autumn]

69. I know I wouldn't. Don't think you or anyone else here would either. Well, with the exception here and there

If Democrats remain silent and don't get this out there they would be complacent. I'm thinking one or more of our Dems will leak it.

[speak easy]

87. What it proves is that he did not know she was underage

when he had sex with her the first time(s).I would be pretty hard to establish grooming when (1) he did not know she was underage and (2) she was already a sex worker.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

88. Not knowing the age of the victim isn't a defense to statutory rape.

As to sex workers there are sex workers that are pre-pubescent.

[speak easy]

89. Not knowing is a defense to Sex Trafficking.

Statutory rape is a state offense. Disqualifying - yes. Federal? No.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

90. He violated Florida law when he had sex with a child.

He violated Florida law when he had sex with a child:


794.05Unlawful sexual activity with certain minors.—
(1)A person 24 years of age or older who engages in sexual activity with a person 16 or 17 years of age commits a felony of the second degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082, s. 775.083, or s. 775.084. As used in this section, “sexual activity” means oral, anal, or vaginal penetration by, or union with, the sexual organ of another or the anal or vaginal penetration of another by any other object; however, sexual activity does not include an act done for a bona fide medical purpose.
(2)The provisions of this section do not apply to a person 16 or 17 years of age who has had the disabilities of nonage removed under chapter 743.
(3)The victim’s prior sexual conduct is not a relevant issue in a prosecution under this section.
(4)If an offense under this section directly results in the victim giving birth to a child, paternity of that child shall be established as described in chapter 742. If it is determined that the offender is the father of the child, the offender must pay child support pursuant to the child support guidelines described in chapter 61.
History.—RS 2598; s. 1, ch. 4965, 1901; GS 3521; s. 1, ch. 6974, 1915; s. 1, ch. 7732, 1918; RGS 5409; s. 1, ch. 8596, 1921; CGL 7552; s. 1, ch. 61-109; s. 759, ch. 71-136; s. 1, ch. 96-409; s. 5, ch. 2014-4.





He violated federal law when he paid to have sex workers delivered to him. The allegation is he had multiple sex workers delivered to him:

Act 18 U.S.C. § 1591
Sex trafficking is illegal in the US under Act 18 U.S.C. § 1591, or the Commercial Sex Act. It is illegal to recruit, entice, obtain, provide, move or harbor a person or to benefit from such activities knowing that the person will be caused to engage in commercial sex acts where the person is under 18 or where force, fraud or coercion exists1. Sex trafficking is also a federal crime when it involves conducting the activities of a sex trafficking enterprise in a way that affects interstate or foreign commerce or that involves travel in interstate or foreign commerce2. Sex trafficking is defined as the recruitment, harboring, transportation, provision, obtaining, patronizing, or soliciting of a person for the purpose of a commercial sex act in which a commercial sex act is induced by force, fraud, or coercion, or in which the person induced to perform such act has not attained 18 years of age34.

[speak easy]

92. 18 U.S.C. § 1591

18 U.S.C. § 1591 - U.S. Code - Unannotated Title 18. Crimes and Criminal Procedure § 1591. Sex trafficking of children or by force, fraud, or coercion

Current as of January 01, 2024 | Updated by FindLaw Staff

(a) Whoever knowingly--

(1) in or affecting interstate or foreign commerce, or within the special maritime and territorial jurisdiction of the United States, recruits, entices, harbors, transports, provides, obtains, advertises, maintains, patronizes, or solicits by any means a person; or

(2) benefits, financially or by receiving anything of value, from participation in a venture which has engaged in an act described in violation of paragraph (1),

knowing, or, except where the act constituting the violation of paragraph (1) is advertising, in reckless disregard of the fact, that means of force, threats of force, fraud, coercion described in subsection (e)(2), or any combination of such means will be used to cause the person to engage in a commercial sex act, or that the person has not attained the age of 18 years and will be caused to engage in a commercial sex act, shall be punished as provided in subsection (b).

https://codes.findlaw.com/us/title-18-crimes-and-criminal-procedure/18-usc-sect-1591/

[DemocratSinceBirth]

94. The allegations

The allegations are that Gaetz had sex with a minor which is a violation of a Florida statute and he facilitated the transport of multiple women across state lines to have sex with him. He ran afoul of both state and federal laws. To put it colloquially not only did he bang a minor but he facilitated the transport of multiple women across state lines so he could bang them.

[speak easy]

95. "The allegations are that Gaetz had sex with a minor which is a violation of a Florida statute "

I never disputed that -Gaetz is a low life criminal.

"he facilitated the transport of multiple women across state lines to have sex with him"
is not in itself a Federal crime.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

98. It's a violation of the federal statute I cited.

If X pays Y to travel for the purpose of commercial sex X is in violation of federal human trafficking laws. Would you like me to cite the specific language? Matt Gaetz is a Diddy style freak who had sex with a minor and facilitated the transport of other individuals to engage in commercial sexual activity. He's no different than a pimp who hires a hooker to have sex with random johns in a sleazy airport motel.

[speak easy]

102. Not so

The requirement is "a reckless disregard of the fact, that means of force, threats of force, fraud, coercion" or knowledge that the girl is under 18.

Mens rea.

[hadEnuf]

97. How many guys in prison didn't know she was underage either?

Gimme a break

[HereForTheParty]

85. It seems this stuff has swirled around for a couple of years

and not a damn thing comes of it.

[Ms. Toad]

99. No. It makes him a rapist.

Whether he knew she was 17 is legally irrelevant (assuming the age of consent in the state was 17). The entire point of statutory rape laws is that individuals below the statutory age are now legally capable of giving consent, so having sex with them is - by law - rape.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

101. Being a rapist and a groomer aren't mutulally exclusive

[Prairie Gates]

42. That's quite a defense for the nominee for the highest law enforcement officer in the country

"Senator, I did not know she was 17 at the time that I was fucking her in public by the pool. Moreover, I did not pay her directly. I paid her pimp."

[DemocratSinceBirth]

48. They had sex on a hockey table.

When I was a young man I used to go to this dive bar. One of the guys that worked there had sex with a young woman on the pool table after it closed. I would add it was consensual, they were both of the age of majority, and no money was passed.

[Autumn]

67. I understand the next VP has sex WITH couches.

I can't imagine any way the couch could give consent.

[Ms. Toad]

100. No. He didn't.

That's was literally fake news.

[Autumn]

107. Well I like it because he's skeevy enough to do it. So I'm sticking to it.

I think it's funny as fuck and whoever came up with it is brilliant, YMOV

[Ms. Toad]

108. Truth matters. n/t

[Autumn]

109. Having a sense of humor matters in times like these. n/t

[Ms. Toad]

110. I agree, but it is not humorous to spread fake news -

Especially fake news that many people believed at the time it was created, and appears to still be being believed in some quarters.

[Autumn]

112. Fake news LOL No one fucking believes it. If you are in the wrong quarter so sorry

If you don't like what I post ignore me because when he finally shows up again I'm gonna post it.

[W_HAMILTON]

111. LOL, that just means more criminal charges!

[Yavin4]

46. So?

This won't matter.

[Prairie Gates]

54. Not with that attitude

[Pinback]

63. Boys will be Johns? (nt)

[dhol82]

65. Sadly, you are right

[keithbvadu2]

62. Gaetz - payment made

Link to tweet

[Ligyron]

66. I heard he only did it as part of an investigation he was doing.

He wanted to investigate how much shit he could get away with and still remain in Congress.

[paleotn]

75. Someone's leaking. I wonder why.

Torpedoes in the water. Gaetz is doomed. Donny already has an out.

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2024/nov/19/trump-matt-gaetz-confirmation-senate

But no worries. Donny will pony up someone just as egregious, only less flamboyant in his egregiousness.

[applegrove]

76. CNN just showed a diagram of how he got others to pay the women.

I think that is what it was.

[Botany]

77. Only thousands? Trump paid over 100,000 $s to Stormy Daniels along with paying his lawyer, ...

…. Michael Cohen too and the National Enquirer paid Karen McDougal, $150,000 @ the behest
of Trump. I wonder if Russia paid that money back to the National Enquirer?

Gaetz will fit right in with Trump.

[JohnSJ]

79. He isn't a Democrat, like Eliot Spitzer was, so it's ok. (sarcasm). Seriously though, it is time

for a Democrat privy to the report to release it Whether it is done anonymously or not doesn't matter.

the republicans sure would.

[cliffside]

84. NYT share link ...Federal Inquiry Traced Payments From Gaetz to Women

might have been posted already but FWIW

https://www.nytimes.com/2024/11/20/us/politics/matt-gaetz-venmo-payments-sex.html?unlocked_article_code=1.bk4.KucE.81hAlqIU89Oh&smid=url-share

[AverageOldGuy]

86. So . . .

. . . Print them on the front page with huge headlines or STFU.

[JI7]

104. If you are a straight white xtian right winger it's just fine

if he was some minority or a white female it would be a problem.