Scandal weasel Rep. Matt Gaetz refuses to drop the damn shovel. Maybe he’s acting as his own attorney, which would explain why he has such a fool for a client, because wouldn’t any competent lawyer serve him a nice steaming mug of STFU? In every TV appearance since the story broke, Gaetz has dug a deeper hole by doing things like defending or denying skeevy activities for which he hasn’t yet been accused.
Today, Gaetz wrote an op-ed in the wingnut Washington Examiner (no linky for the stinky; is easily Googlable). The piece is about what you’d expect if you’ve followed the disastrous media appearances, with Gaetz defending his conduct in gross and squirrely ways and trying to rope bystanders into his predicament. Here’s how it starts off:
Washington scandal cycles are predictable, and sex is especially potent in politics. Let me first remind everyone that I am a representative in Congress, not a monk, and certainly not a criminal.
LOL! It gets worse. Here are a couple of excerpts:
Folks won’t be surprised that bizarre claims are being made about me shortly after I decided to take on the most powerful institutions in the Beltway: the establishment; the FBI; the Biden Justice Department; the Cheney political dynasty; even the Justice Department under Trump.
The wheels of the bus go round and round, and thump-thump, there goes Barr. Also, it’s ironic that Gaetz calls out the “Cheney political dynasty” when he’s a nepotism legislator his own self, but I guess he’s counting on that not being widely known outside of Florida. Or maybe it’s just a profound lack of self-awareness, which is entirely believable with that blockhead.
Anyhoo, there’s a lot of herp-de-derp Hunter Biden and blah blah blah Bill Clinton and yada yada yada Andrew Cuomo, but then we finally get around to a preview of upcoming attractions:
You’ll see more “drip, drip, drip” of leaks into the media from the corrupt Justice Department and others. When you do, ask yourself why. They aren’t coming for me — they are coming for you. I’m just in the way.
Uh huh. That’s just what The Former Guy said even as his campaign was draining supporters’ bank accounts with shady “default” recurring contributions. It’s the busted conman’s refrain.
I think there’s a decent chance this scandal ultimately ends Gaetz’s political career since he’s a moron who allegedly left a paper trail of his crimes. His district probably won’t cough up anyone appreciably better from a legislative standpoint, but the fewer rich and entitled frat-boy Republicans in Congress, the better, so good riddance to bad rubbish.
Here’s hoping Gaetz’s flame-out is epic enough for political gossip rags like Politico to start looking at his relationship with FL Gov. Ron DeSantis. As I’ve mentioned, I don’t think DeSantis is stupid enough to be involved in the Gaetz-Greenberg criminal activities portfolio (although I suppose that’s possible).
But Gaetz was definitely a high-profile DeSantis ally. Gaetz and DeSantis were pals during their statehouse days. Gaetz was an early supporter of DeSantis’s gubernatorial bid and co-chaired the transition team when DeSantis won in 2018. DeSantis should definitely be asked about that. Repeatedly.
Open thread!