After my post yesterday, it was reported that Florida Representative Matt Gaetz resigned his seat after getting the nomination for United States Attorney General. The House Ethics Committee, which has been investigating allegations that Gaetz engaged in sexual misconduct and illicit drug use, was prepared to vote to release a highly critical report about Gaetz tomorrow (Friday). His abrupt resignation effectively ended the ethics investigation that has hung over his head for years. It is unclear if the report will still be released.

https://www.cnn.com/2024/11/13/politics/house-ethics-committee-report-gaetz-investigation/index.html

See also the entire front page of the New York Times for a better breakdown.

The committee’s report had already been delayed because of a House rule that forbids releasing a negative report close to an election.  Wouldn’t want the voters to see any underbelly before they hit the voting booth. Gaetz doesn’t want voters seeing any of it now, hence the immediate resignation after getting the AG nomination.

The House took up these allegations after a Justice Department investigation into allegations including that Gaetz had sex with a minor, that he transported the 17-year-old across state lines to engage in prostitution, and that he obstructed justice in an effort to cover up his actions, stalled and no charges were filed.

https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/doj-decides-not-charge-rep-matt-gaetz-sex-trafficking-investigation-rcna70839

This would be like a newly sworn-in President Gerald Ford offering fellow Michigander Frank Shelden the top slot at the Department of the Interior in August 1974 to reward Shelden’s keen appreciation of “natural resources” like N. Fox Island and campaign donations. (It didn’t happen, of course, but think about how far we have fallen when someone like Gaetz is nominated for attorney general.)

But here’s hoping the price of all those eggs you are consuming comes down a dollar a dozen and that Washington “hears” all your many grievances, even as they deep-six a report on a fellow member’s extra-curricular activities.

The nomination of Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz as United States Attorney General has the potential to make former U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida Alex Acosta’s interference in the Jeffrey Epstein prosecution in Florida look positively ethical.

https://apnews.com/article/jeffrey-epstein-florida-e2a4431f7319afd037023d9a586aa291

An avowed pussy-grabbing president who was found liable in a civil case for sexual assault (in New York digital penetration is somehow not considered rape) nominates a man for AG who has been the subject of multiple investigations into child trafficking and obstruction of justice.

https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/trump-picks-rep-matt-gaetz-attorney-general/story?id=115835796

Gaetz has denied any wrongdoing and maintains his innocence, so I guess this next part is just boys being boys on the House floor. No big deal.

In 2021 it was reported that as “a point of pride,” Gaetz shared nude photos and videos of women he claims were his sex partners with his buddies on the House floor.

https://www.cnn.com/2021/04/01/politics/matt-gaetz-photos-women/index.html

https://www.the-independent.com/news/world/americas/us-politics/matt-gaetz-women-nude-photos-b1825881.html

Back in the “old days” the FBI would conduct a full background check on any nominee for the US Attorney position in a state district, let alone the top job. “Have you ever seen [nominee] drunk? Use marijuana or other drugs? Swear or be abusive to any person? Cheat on their spouse? Lie? Say anything remotely racist?” But those were the old days. Now all bets are off. He will get the Brett Kavanaugh fast-track investigation. No need to dig around. “I like beer” will become “I like nudes.” Who cares, you’re hired.

The DOJ has had a strong record of late in cases against child traffickers and creators/users of CSAM. https://www.justice.gov/psc There will be a big change in personnel in United States Attorneys offices around the country as soon as the next president is sworn in. How will DOJ approach these cases going forward? Will Project Safe Childhood become Project Safe Predators? Man, down is up and up is down. Night is day and day is night.

Compare these people with Natasha Alexenko, whose courage and death were reported on in the NYT today. Alexenko became a powerful advocate for ending the national backlog of rape-kit testing after suffering dual traumas — being sexually assaulted and then discovering that her own rape kit with forensic evidence from her attacker had gone untested for 10 years.