US House 42 , CD3 DFL

Florida Law Firm Refutes Gaetz’s ‘False And Defamatory’ Extortion Claims

A Pensacola law firm has fired back at Rep. Matt Gaetz’s (R-FL) claims accusing one of its attorneys of extortion.

According to MyNBC15, Beggs & Lane Attorneys and Counselors at Law released a statement in defense of its partner David L. McGee, also a former prosecutor with the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Northern District of Florida, whom the controversial lawmaker has accused of extorting his family for millions of dollars.

As reports of sex trafficking allegations involving Gaetz were made public on Tuesday, he appeared on Fox News’ Tucker Carlson Tonight where he claimed McGee “attempted to extort $25 million from Gaetz and his family in exchange for McGee making the investigation ‘go away.'”

The following day the law firm released a statement in response to Gaetz’s claims. Continue reading.

Justice Dept. Inquiry Into Matt Gaetz Said to Be Focused on Cash Paid to Women

The congressman and a former official in Florida sent money to the women using cash apps, receipts showed.

WASHINGTON — A Justice Department investigation into Representative Matt Gaetz and an indicted Florida politician is focusing on their involvement with multiple women who were recruited online for sex and received cash payments, according to people close to the investigation and text messages and payment receipts reviewed by The New York Times.

Investigators believe Joel Greenberg, the former tax collector in Seminole County, Fla., who was indicted last year on a federal sex trafficking charge and other crimes, initially met the women through websites that connect people who go on dates in exchange for gifts, fine dining, travel and allowances, according to three people with knowledge of the encounters. Mr. Greenberg introduced the women to Mr. Gaetz, who also had sex with them, the people said.

One of the women who had sex with both men also agreed to have sex with an unidentified associate of theirs in Florida Republican politics, according to a person familiar with the arrangement. Mr. Greenberg had initially contacted her online and introduced her to Mr. Gaetz, the person said. Continue reading.

Trump’s advisers are pushing him to not publicly defend Gaetz: NYT’s Maggie Haberman

On CNN Wednesday, New York Times reported Maggie Haberman said that former President Donald Trump is being pressed by his aides not to come to the defense of Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) amid the scandal surrounding a federal investigation for sex trafficking.

“Congressman Gaetz is a staunch and vocal ally of President Trump,” said anchor Jim Sciutto. “Any sense how this news is being received by the president or people in his orbit?”

“The only other person I can think of that I have seen handled an investigation this way is Donald Trump, under investigation by the Mueller team,” said Haberman. “But he was president. And it’s a little different the protections you have as president, versus anyone else.” Continue reading.

Matt Gaetz’s claim that ‘travel records’ debunk the allegations against him

“It is a horrible allegation, and it is a lie. The New York Times is running a story that I have traveled with a 17-year-old woman, and that is verifiably false. People can look at my travel records and see that that is not the case.”

— Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.), in an interview on “Tucker Carlson Tonight” on Fox News, March 30, 2021

“I have not had a relationship with a 17-year-old. That is totally false. … And records will bear that out to be false.”

— Gaetz, in the interview

The Justice Department is investigating Gaetz over an alleged sexual relationship about two years ago with a 17-year-old girl.

Gaetz, 38, has confirmed that he is a subject of the investigation. He denies the allegations and says his family is being blackmailedby a former federal prosecutor seeking $25 million.

The Gaetz investigation was first reported by the New York Times on Tuesday. That night, Gaetz went on Fox News and called the story “verifiably false.” He said “people can look at my travel records and see that that is not the case.” Continue reading.

Anti-Asian hate crimes heighten calls for new legislation in Minnesota, Congress

DFL-backed bills seek better hate-crime reporting, police training.

A troubling rise in anti-Asian incidents reported to Minnesota community groups started a month before COVID-19 appeared in the state last year.

As the pandemic worsened, so did reports to groups like the St. Paul-based Coalition of Asian American Leaders. In one call to the group, a couple said an angry fellow grocery shopper blamed them for the coronavirus and shoved the husband in the parking lot.

“This time it was shoving. What if next time someone wants to run them over with their car?” said Bo Thao-Urabe, the group’s executive director. Continue reading.

Gaetz investigation complicated by overture to his father about ex-FBI agent who went missing

Rep. Matt Gaetz, a Florida Republican known for his fierce allegiance to former president Donald Trump, had been under Justice Department investigation for months for a possible sex crime when two men approached his father with a proposal, people familiar with the matter said.

The men had learned of the investigation, they wrote to Don Gaetz, and wanted to offer an opportunity to help his son, the people said. He could give a huge sum of money to fund their effort to locate Robert A. Levinson — the longest-held American hostage in Iran, whose family has said they were told he is dead. If the operation were a success, he would win public favor and help alleviate Matt Gaetz’s legal woes.

But Don Gaetz, a prominent Florida Republican who once led the state Senate, viewed the communication suspiciously, the people said, speaking on the condition of anonymity to describe a continuing and politically sensitive probe. The investigation into Matt Gaetz’s alleged crime — he is suspected of having sex with a 17-year-old girl, as well as funding her travel — was not public knowledge. Fearing his family was being extorted, Don Gaetz contacted the FBI. Continue reading.

‘Case closed — he did it’: Jim Jordan mocked for proclaiming Matt Gaetz’s innocence

Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH) drew ridicule on Wednesday when he proclaimed that Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) was innocent of any allegations involving underage sex trafficking.

Jordan, who has long been one of Gaetz’s staunchest congressional allies, told CNN’s Ryan Nobles that “I believe Matt Gaetz” is innocent after it was revealed on Tuesday night that he’s being investigated by the Department of Justice for potentially having an inappropriate relationship with a 17-year-old.

However, Gaetz may not want Jordan to be the man vouching for him, as the Ohio congressman has been accused by former wrestlers at Ohio State University of covering up sexual abuse by former OSU doctor Richard Strauss during Jordan’s tenure as an OSU wrestling coach. Continue reading.

Gaetz, on the ropes, finds few friends in GOP

In four years on Capitol Hill, Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) has experienced a meteoric rise to national prominence — one fueled by a close alliance with former President Trump, a penchant for political theatrics and a no-apologies brand of conservatism that’s made him a darling of the right-wing cable outlets.

Yet this week, facing a federal investigation into allegations of a sexual relationship with an underage girl, Gaetz is finding himself in an unusual spot: on the ropes and virtually alone.

Few of Gaetz’s GOP colleagues are coming to the defense of the third-term Floridian following a New York Times report that the Department of Justice (DOJ) is investigating allegations of sexual misconduct with — and interstate trafficking of — a minor roughly two years ago. And a number of Republicans, while warning against jumping to premature conclusions about Gaetz’s conduct, also suggested they wouldn’t miss him if he were gone. Continue reading.

GOP memo urges ‘rebrand’ as ‘the working class party’ — by embracing ‘Donald Trump’s gift’

Although former President Donald Trump has been gone from the White House for two months, his far-right brand of pseudo-populism — which was greatly influenced by Patrick Buchanan — continues to have a major effect on the GOP. And this week, according to Axios reporter Jonathan Swan, two House Republicans — House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy and Rep. Jim Banks of Indiana — discussed a memo calling for the GOP to market itself as the “working class” party in the 2022 midterms.

The March 30 memo, written by Banks and addressed to McCarthy, is titled “Cementing GOP as the Working Class Party.” And it argues that Republicans, in 2022, need to embrace Trump voters and Trump’s ideas.

In the memo, Banks — who heads the Republican Study Committee — emphasizes, “Our electoral success in the 2022 midterm election will be determined by our willingness to embrace our new coalition. House Republicans can broaden our electorate, increase voter turnout, and take back the House by enthusiastically rebranding and reorienting as the Party of the Working Class…. There is an embittered and loud minority in the GOP that finds our new coalition distasteful, but President Trump’s gift didn’t come with a receipt.” Continue reading.

Rep. Dean Phillips: Big News This Week

Hi Neighbors,

Happy Passover and a blessed holy week to those who are celebrating, and happy spring to all! I hope you’ll join me in reflecting on the importance of family, community, and working together to overcome adversity.

Right off the bat, I have some exciting news to share: you are now eligible to get a COVID-19 vaccine! All Minnesotans 16 and older can now register for a COVID-19 vaccine appointment. For now, demand will still exceed supply, and it may be frustrating and difficult to get an appointment. Vaccine shipments from the federal government will continue to increase over the coming weeks and safe, effective COVID-19 vaccines will be available at no cost to every Minnesotan who wants one. In the meantime, I urge you to ensure your information is up-to-date with your healthcare provider and to sign up for the Vaccine Connector so that you can get a vaccine as soon as possible.

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this: