Some of Rep. Matt Gaetz’s (R-FL) older tweets have resurfaced in the wake of a New York Times report detailing the Justice Department’s investigation into sexual misconduct involving a 17-year-old girl. These tweets definitely did not age well.
The report states that the Justice Department is investigating whether Gaetz violated federal sex trafficking laws by paying for the girl to travel over state lines.
Gaetz himself acknowledged the investigation, but vehemently denied the claims.
“Over the past several weeks my family and I have been victims of an organized criminal extortion involving a former DOJ official seeking $25 million while threatening to smear my name. We have been cooperating with federal authorities in this matter and my father has even been wearing a wire at the FBI’s direction to catch these criminals,” Gaetz said in a statement. “No part of the allegations against me are true, and the people pushing these lies are targets of the ongoing extortion investigation.”
While Gaetz claims to be innocent, these old tweets may get him in trouble:
Deal. I want Gaetzgate. https://t.co/MB8sYjwJcT
— Matt Gaetz (@mattgaetz) March 25, 2021
Good lunch table at Pace HS today! pic.twitter.com/zze4knhK3U
— Matt Gaetz (@mattgaetz) August 16, 2017
I say we change Florida’s welcome signs to this 👇 https://t.co/w1eBUvvg8F
— Matt Gaetz (@mattgaetz) August 12, 2019