The son of prominent Florida politician Don Gaetz, Gaetz was raised in Fort Walton Beach, Florida. [202][203], On February 27, 2018, Gaetz voted against the Allow States and Victims to Fight Online Sex Trafficking Act, which had by then been combined with the Stop Enabling Sex Traffickers Act. [228], By June, the federal investigation had reportedly broadened to include obstruction of justice, relating to a phone conversation Gaetz had with a witness. (Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call/Newscom) On Tuesday night, The New York Times alleged that Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) is "under investigation over possible sex trafficking" of a minor. After graduating from the William & Mary Law School, he briefly worked in private practice before running for state representative. [188], On April 14, Gaetz said the Wuhan Institute of Virology "birthed a monster", a reference to the theory that COVID-19 was leaked out of a Chinese research lab. [17], After graduating from William & Mary Law School,[18] Gaetz worked at the law firm Keefe, Anchors & Gordon (now AnchorsGordon)[19] in Fort Walton Beach. [164], On June 1, 2020, during the nationwide George Floyd protests, Gaetz tweeted, "Now that we clearly see antifa as terrorists, can we hunt them down like we do those in the Middle East?" [9][10][11], Gaetz grew up near Fort Walton Beach, and graduated from Niceville High School. "I'm excited to announce that I'm running for Congress to restore common sense values to SW Washington. In December 2017, Gaetz supported Trump's decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israel's capital, and said that the move would pressure Palestine to recognize Israel. [21], In March 2010, after Republican state representative Ray Sansom's resignation on corruption charges in February 2010,[22] Gaetz ran in the special election to succeed Sansom in the 4th district, which included southern Santa Rosa County and Okaloosa County. Brian Williams didn't shy away from criticizing Matt Gaetz, the controversial U.S. Representative from Florida and ally of President Donald Trump, after Gaetz launched his own criticism of th [224] Greenberg was indicted in August 2020 on an array of charges, including sex trafficking a 17-year-old girl in 2017 and creating fake IDs to facilitate sex trafficking. Gaetz was arrested on suspicion of DUI on October 30, 2008, when he was 26 years old. "[288] In 2016, he called Galbn a "local student"; in 2017, he called Galbn "my helper". Inquiry Over Sex With an Underage Girl", "DOJ Investigation Focusing on Matt Gaetz's Alleged Payments for Sex: Report", "Federal investigation into Rep. Matt Gaetz is focused on cash payments to women, report says", "The House ethics panel has opened an investigation into sexual misconduct allegations against Matt Gaetz", "Career prosecutors recommend no charges for Gaetz in sex-trafficking probe", Biographical Directory of the United States Congress, "Who is Matt Gaetz? [226] Gaetz was reportedly joined by marijuana entrepreneur and hand surgeon Jason Pirozzolo, who allegedly paid trip accommodations, traveling expenses, and escort services. American lawyer cum politician, Matt Gaetz, was never in the military. He wrote, "If Democrats want to defund the police, they should start with the FBI. BREAKING: The crowd at today's hearing just erupted into laughter as a witness humiliated Republican Matt Gaetz in brilliant fashion.Subscribe for more and f. In June 2021, Gaetz introduced the Digital Health Pass Prevention Act (DHPPA) with the support of representatives Louie Gohmert and Lance Gooden. He was driving home from a nightclub and was pulled over for driving 48 in a 35 mile-per-hour zone, according . [35], When his subcommittee was considering legislation that would keep suspects' mugshots off the Internet until their convictions, Gaetz brought up his 2008 arrest and non-conviction, arguing that his mistakes made him who he is and that publicly available mugshots "could be a problem for those unaccustomed to publicity". [7] A September 2022 Washington Post article reported that career prosecutors have recommended not to charge Gaetz in the sex-trafficking investigation, telling Justice Department superiors that a conviction is unlikely in part because of credibility questions about the two central witnesses. Instagram/Nestor Galban Rep. Matt Gaetz with his son Nestor Galban and Donald Trump . [53], In February 2020, Gaetz announced that he would no longer accept campaign contributions from federal political action committees. It's All Part of the Plan", "Local feelings on same-sex marriage ruling mixed", Office of the Clerk, U.S. House of Representatives, "Roll Call 513 | Bill Number: H. R. 8404", "House passes antitrust bill that hikes M&A fees as larger efforts targeting tech have stalled", "H.R. [62][63] Gaetz initially defended his tweet, saying it was part of "witness testing, not witness tampering" and "I don't threaten anybody." Gaetz and other GOP members mocked Democrats and their COVID-19 regulations on social media. Photo: Twitter. [150] He acknowledged that the bill's pass-through tax deduction would benefit Trump, but added, "so many Americans benefit when commercial real estate becomes easier and more accessible. Read More KEEP GAETZ FIGHTING "America is the greatest country that has ever existed. [120][121][119] The Times also reported that aides had told Trump of the request. [225] According to CNN, a person briefed on the matter said investigators also examined whether Gaetz used campaign money in his relationships with young women for travel and expenses and whether cash and drugs were involved. A Republican, he has been an ally of former president Donald Trump,[1] as well as a proponent of far-right politics.[2]. Matt Gaetz could see charges brought against him by federal prosecutors in July, a report says. Matt Prigge Contributing Writer Twitter. [117], Gaetz is a member of the House Judiciary Committee, but not of the Intelligence, Foreign Affairs, or Oversight and Reform Committees, and so was not allowed to join lawmakers' closed-door deposition of former White House Russia aide Fiona Hill in October 2019. [205], Gaetz opposes sanctuary cities, which opt not to dedicate local law enforcement resources to prosecuting people solely for being undocumented. How the 'revenge porn' bill ended up so flawed", "Weatherford calls for hearings on 'stand your ground', "Matt Gaetz to rally base ahead of Stand Your Ground hearing", "Proposed 'stand your ground' amendment would expunge records", "Matt Gaetz wants to talk about his mug shot, but not his arrest", "Gaetz wasn't always against leadership. [194], On July 31, Gaetz said of COVID-19 variants that "next it'll be the Chi Omega variant or the Pi Kappa Psi variant. Congressman Matt Gaetz joined Mike Emanuel on "Fox News Live" to discuss how last week's battle over the House Speakership created a rules package that democratizes power among members of Congress, making it easier to deliver results that the American people want from their representatives. He failed an eye test twice, then declined field sobriety tests. As a result, Gaetz was placed under self-quarantine for 14 days. He is a member of the House Armed Services Committee and the House Judiciary Committee. [169] Gaetz was one of three representatives to offer Rittenhouse a Congressional internship. Gaetz has. These include September 2018 text messages between Greenberg and a woman engaging in prostitution, which indicate that a prostitute was arranged for Gaetz and that the drug MDMA may have been proffered. Nevertheless, the NIH denied it had helped create the virus that sparked the COVID-19 pandemic. (Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images) At the end of his comments, Milley directly addressed Waltz, a combat veteran. A former Green Beret who told Fox News in 2016 that he killed a suspected Taliban bomb maker nearly a decade ago during combat operations in Afghanistan is now being charged in the man's death . [124] He also asked for a special counsel investigation into the Federal Bureau of Investigation's handling of the Hillary Clinton email controversy, undue interference by U.S. attorney general Loretta Lynch in the investigation, and the Russian state corporation Rosatom's acquisition of Uranium One during Mueller's time as FBI director. Matt Gaetz has been a vocal supporter of the tea party's agenda, . Milley, who was testifying alongside Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin at the hearing, was responding to Florida representatives Michael Waltz, a former Army Green Beret, and Matt Gaetz. [84][85], In the 2022 midterm elections, Republicans regained a narrow House majority. ", "Orange County venue cancels Matt Gaetz, Marjorie Taylor Greene's planned America First rally", "21 Republicans vote no on bill to award Congressional Gold Medal for January 6 police officers", "Rep. Matt Gaetz's very witness-tamper-y Michael Cohen tweet", "Trump ally threatens Cohen with unsubstantiated allegation of womanizing", "A high-profile Trump ally in Congress just straight-up threatened Michael Cohen", "GOP lawmaker says tweet about Cohen is 'witness testing, not witness tampering', "GOP Rep. Matt Gaetz apologizes for tweet targeting Michael Cohen", "Trump ally Gaetz apologizes for threatening Michael Cohen ahead of hearing", "Rep. Matt Gaetz facing investigation over tweet about Michael Cohen", "Rep. Matt Gaetz tweets cryptic warning to Michael Cohen ahead of hearing", "The winners and losers of Michael Cohen's House hearing", "Michael Cohen testifies before Congress: Live updates", "Gaetz sent apology text to Cohen after House testimony: report", "Rep. Matt Gaetz insists he didn't threaten Michael Cohen. "[213], As a Florida state representative in 2015, Gaetz and Representative David Richardson sponsored an amendment to repeal Florida's ban on same-sex adoptions. Yet new House Speaker Kevin McCarthy has elevated fringe figures like Reps. Matt Gaetz and Marjorie Taylor Greene . [55], In 2021, Gaetz and Georgia representative Marjorie Taylor Greene began a nationwide "America First Tour" on May 7, in The Villages, Florida. House Republicans are making clear that they intend to seek cuts to entitlement programs like Social Security and Medicare with their new majority in the 118th Congress. [218], During the 116th Congress, Gaetz voted against the Equality Act. 1158) which effectively prohibits ICE from cooperating with Health and Human Services to detain or remove illegal alien sponsors of unaccompanied alien children (UACs). Our woke congresswoman Marie Perez votes in lockstep with the radical left's plan that's . Meet Ginger Luckey, a 26-year-old Harvard business student and the congressman's 'travel buddy', "Matt Gaetz, Republican in sex-trafficking investigation, marries in California", United States representatives by seniority, Members of the U.S. House of Representatives from Florida, Current members of the United States House of Representatives, List of acts of the 118th United States Congress, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Matt_Gaetz&oldid=1134306949, Far-right politicians in the United States, Republican Party members of the Florida House of Representatives, Republican Party members of the United States House of Representatives from Florida, Short description is different from Wikidata, Wikipedia pages semi-protected against vandalism, Pages using Sister project links with hidden wikidata, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 18 January 2023, at 01:07. After Gaetz was arrested, he refused to take a breathalyzer test. The Justice Department is investigating whether Representative Matt Gaetz, Republican of Florida and a close ally of former President Donald J. Trump, broke federal sex trafficking laws, focusing . Now he's attacking the accusers", "Representative Jim Jordan returns to Washington as scrutiny over alleged sexual abuse at Ohio State intensifies", "GOP lawmaker: Accusations against Jim Jordan come from 'deep state', "Tapper presses lawmaker: Who is the deep state? [115][116], Appearing on The View in February 2020, shortly before Trump associate Roger Stone was sentenced, Gaetz said he would support a pardon for Stone. Asked to clarify, he said his "tweet speaks for itself". In early March 2020, Gaetz wore a gas mask during a House debate on funds to combat the COVID-19 pandemic. [189] He also claimed that the National Institutes of Health had given the Institute a $3.7 million grant. [100] As a member of the Florida House, he sponsored a bill, eventually signed into law,[101] to expand the state's Right to Try Act to include the medical use of cannabis. [283][284][285], On December 1, 2022, thanks to his assistance with the prosecutors in a series of investigations, including those involving Gaetz, Greenberg was sentenced to 11 years in prison, plus ten years of supervised release. Gaetz closed his town hall by shouting Trump's 2016 campaign slogan, "Make America Great Again". Milley fired back against criticism from GOP lawmakers on the teaching of critical race theory at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. "[174] Gaetz supports Florida's stand-your-ground law and supported legislation that strengthened it against legal challenges. I got the Florida variant. [227][228], On March 30, 2021, Axios reported that Gaetz was "seriously considering not seeking re-election and possibly leaving Congress early for a job at Newsmax". Matthew Louis Gaetz II (/ e t s / GAYTS; born May 7, 1982) is an American lawyer and politician who has served as the U.S. representative for Florida's 1st congressional district since 2017. [20], On September 25, 2016, following the death of Miami Marlins pitcher Jos Fernndez, Gaetz criticized the athletes protesting during the national anthem in a tweet. "[57][58] As a consequence of the controversy the speakers had generated, their appearance at a conference site at Laguna Hills, in Orange County, California, was canceled. [153][non-primary source needed][154], In January 2017, Gaetz proposed legislation to abolish the Environmental Protection Agency, claiming that it hurts small businesses via the costs associated with compliance. Matt Gaetz, a member of the 116th Congress, is currently serving his second term. [30][155], In November 2017, Gaetz joined the bipartisan Climate Solutions Caucus. [105] He was also the only Republican cosponsor of the bill (of 55 cosponsors) at the time of its passage. A press release stated, "These short-lived climate pollutants, also called super pollutants, are significantly more potent than carbon dioxide. The sender demanded millions of dollars to help secure the release of U.S. federal agent Robert Levinson (who had disappeared in Iran in 2007 and had already been presumed and declared dead),[245][246] proposing that President Joe Biden would pardon Gaetz as a reward for freeing Levinson. He later clarified that Galbn is the brother of an ex-girlfriend of Gaetz's and that Galbn spends time with his sister, with Gaetz's family, and with Gaetz. [286] The sentencing judge, Gregory A. Presnell, said, "He has provided substantial cooperation to the governmentmore than I've seen in 22 years. Although sitting Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy sought the speakership and had the support of 213 members, he needed five more votes to reach a majority to be elected. [184] Several journalists characterized the decision as a stunt. The military's top officer on Wednesday volunteered a forceful defense to a congressional panel of the Defense Department's attempts to better understand social injustice within its ranks and. "[176][177] Immediately before his remarks on the Second Amendment, Gaetz criticized Big Tech companies for trying to "suppress us, discourage us", saying, "Silicon Valley can't cancel this movement, or this rally, or this congressman". Gaetz comes from a political family; Waltz is a high-ranking military officer. [52], After the 2020 State of the Union Address, Gaetz filed an ethics complaint against Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, claiming she had committed a "flagrant violation of decorum" and perhaps broken the law by ripping up her copy of the speech. After graduating from the William & Mary Law School, he briefly worked in private practice before running for state representative. [86] Thirteen months earlier, Gaetz had discussed with former President Trump the possibility of getting Trump elected to the speakership, for which House membership is not required. [32], Florida House speaker Will Weatherford announced that he would order hearings on the stand-your-ground law. 2.9K BoofinBart 1 yr. ago Dude is literally under FBI investigation for grooming and raping underage girls. He managed debate preparations and "drafted early administration organizational charts, helped steer early policy decisions and played a huge role in DeSantis' appointments", according to Politico. "[137][138] House Homeland Security Committee chairman Bennie Thompson of Mississippi wrote to the House sergeant-at-arms about Gaetz and others, requesting that he take action regarding their "unprecedented breach of security". [46][47][48], Gaetz served as a top campaign adviser to Ron DeSantis during his 2018 gubernatorial campaign. [135][136], On January 7, 2021, after Trump supporters violently broke into the U.S. Capitol, Gaetz falsely blamed anarchist movement Antifa for the attack, suggesting that rioters were "masquerading as Trump supporters".[142][143]. Retired Army Col. Johnnie R. Prichard described the Florida Republican's opinion as "just a bunch of bull about himself," in a Nov. 11 letter to the editor of the same newspaper.. Prichard began his letter by thanking veterans for their service to the country and then went on to repeatedly slam . Beattie had previously been fired as a speechwriter for the Trump administration after attending a conference associated with white nationalists. His work in Congress focuses on national security, veterans' affairs, and adherence to constitutional principles. Rittenhouse was arrested and charged with first-degree intentional homicide,[167][168] but was acquitted based on self-defense in November 2021. "[257][258][259], On March 31, 2021, House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy said he had no plans to remove Gaetz from his seats on the Judiciary and Armed Services Committees, but that he might change his mind if Gaetz "gets indicted"[260] or "if it comes out to be true. [190][191], After Politico reported on November 7 that Gaetz had tested positive for COVID-19, he texted Politico "I have tested positive for antibodies" and "I have no live virus". [36], In 2015, Gaetz supported the presidential campaign of Jeb Bush. Gaetz's grandfather, Jerry Gaetz, was the mayor of Rugby, North Dakota, and a candidate for lieutenant governor of North Dakota at the 1964 North Dakota Republican Party state convention, where he died of a heart attack. He told reporters that, since his committee oversees impeachment, he should have been allowed to be part of depositions related to the Trump impeachment inquiry. Six years ago, Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz says, he met the young boy he now calls his son. [192], On December 4, 2020, Gaetz attended an indoor New York Young Republicans Club conference in Jersey City, New Jersey, during a period of surging COVID-19 cases throughout the state and the country. In both, he criticizes former House Speaker Paul Ryan for joining the board of Fox News's parent company and blames him for canceling Lou Dobbs Tonight. Democrats held 212 votes, with one seat unfilled due to the November death of a holdover incumbent. On April 7, Trump denied that Gaetz had asked him for a pardon and noted that Gaetz "totally denied the accusations against him". "I. We need PATRIOTS who will defend her"[166] in support of Kyle Rittenhouse, a 17-year-old from Antioch, Illinois, who traveled to Kenosha, Wisconsin, and shot and killed two people and injured another claiming self-defense during the riots that occurred during the protests of the Jacob Blake shooting. [223], In January 2020, the U.S. Secret Service reportedly received a tip that, in April 2018, Gaetz had accompanied Seminole County tax collector Joel Greenberg to a government office where Greenberg was producing fake IDs. In the November 8 general election, Gaetz defeated Democratic nominee Steven Specht with 69 percent of the vote. [241] Greenberg attempted to bribe Roger Stone with a $250,000 Bitcoin payment to secure a presidential pardon, texting Stone, "They know [Gaetz] paid me to pay the girls and that he and I both had sex with the girl who was underage. [221][222], In 2008, Gaetz was arrested for driving under the influence as he was driving back from a nightclub on Okaloosa Island, Florida. Luis F. Deleon-Figueroa, 31, and Master Sgt. "If Democrats want to defund the police, they should start with the FBI," wrote . [240] The next day, Trump publicly denied that Gaetz had asked him for a pardon. "[171] Gaetz is a lifetime member of the NRA,[171] and has an A+ rating from it. [233] A spokeswoman for Gaetz denied the new allegations. [20], Gaetz was unopposed for a full term in 2010. By Frances Langum June 23, 2021. [219], In 2022, Gaetz voted against the Respect for Marriage Act. 77: Opposing the decision to end certain United States efforts to prevent Turkish military operations against Syrian Kurdish forces in Northeast Syria", "Bernie Sanders, Rand Paul, Ro Khanna, and a bipartisan group of lawmakers sent a letter to Trump imploring him to end US support for Saudi Arabia in Yemen", "Twitter Places Warning on Congressman's Tweet for Glorifying Violence", "Rep. Matt Gaetz on Twitter: "The mob wants to destroy America. [64][65] After sharp criticism from other members of Congress and an implicit rebuke by Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi,[66][67] Gaetz deleted the tweet and posted a tweet in which he apologized. Pedophile Matt Gaetz accused Four Star General Mark Milley, Green Beret and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs under both Trump and Biden of being "woke." General Milley put frat boy Gaetz in his place. [44][45], Gaetz was listed as a member of the moderate Republican Main Street Partnership from at least January to June 2017. [225][5][6] As part of his plea bargain, Greenberg cooperated with the investigation of Gaetz and others. The affair centered around the murder of an alleged spy, Thai Mac Chuyen, who had supposedly infiltrated the South Vietnamese Special Forces for the Viet Cong. [238], Gaetz had argued in a November 2020 Fox News appearance that Trump "should pardon Michael Flynn [and] everyone from himself to his administration officials to Joe Exotic". [254] McGee's law firm called Gaetz's allegation "completely, totally false" and defamatory,[244] telling The Daily Beast that Gaetz was attempting to distract from the sex trafficking investigation. Adds Two Top Prosecutors to Matt Gaetz Case", "Judge Approves Plea Deal, Sets Sentencing Date for Matt Gaetz Associate in Child Sex Trafficking Case", "Gaetz 'wingman' granted another sentencing delay", "Gaetz ally Joel Greenberg is giving investigators new information, prosecutors say", "Representative Matt Gaetz's ex-girlfriend granted immunity in sex trafficking probe", "Matt Gaetz's ex-girlfriend testifies to grand jury in sex trafficking probe", "Witness Can Confirm Matt Gaetz Was Told He Had Sex With a Minor", "Florida radio host cooperates in federal investigation into Rep. Matt Gaetz, attorney tells CNN", "A witness corroborated the claim that Rep. Matt Gaetz was told in 2017 he'd had sex with a minor, report says", Former Gaetz Confidant Is Sentenced to 11 Years in Prison, "Matt Gaetz describes himself as 'single step-parent' to Nestor Galban", "Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz reveals he lives with a 19-year-old Cuban immigrant whom he calls his son", "Republican Matt Gaetz and son, Nestor, appear together on Fox News", "Rep. Matt Gaetz reveals adopted 19-year-old Cuban son Nestor on Twitter", "Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz is engaged to Ginger Luckey", "Who is Rep. Matt Gaetz's fiance? Police recorded him driving 48mph (77km/h) in a 35mph (56km/h) zone and noted that he showed physical signs of intoxication. I got the freedom variant. [249][250], Gaetz said his attorneys contacted the FBI, which he said informed them that Gaetz was a subject, not a target, of an investigation. After Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) who, we must remind you, is currently under federal investigation for sex trafficking a 17-year-old asked Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin how the Department of. [79] A statement from Gaetz's office said the arrangement complied with House rules, and that during the setup process, his office consulted with the House Ethics Committee and the House Administration Committee. [109] Gaetz arrived 30 minutes late to the meeting, where at least 500 constituents crowded into a bowling alley. [263][264][265], On April 6, 2021, The New York Times reported that in the last weeks of the Trump administration, Gaetz privately requested a blanket presidential pardon for himself and others, which was reportedly denied because it would set a bad precedent. [241], On May 17, 2021, Greenberg pleaded guilty to multiple crimes in a plea deal in which he would have to cooperate with prosecutors. [42] This virtually assured Gaetz of victory in the general election; with a Cook Partisan Voting Index of R+22, the 1st is Florida's most Republican district, and one of the most Republican in the nation. [247][248] The sender was later identified as Florida developer Stephen Alford, who was arrested on August 31. Hamlette: Jun 2021 #5: now I get it, Milley was addressing Sec of Def Austin who appears in the clip. It gets you to think for yourself where you don't just surrender to the truth that they're trying to create in corrupt big media. [217], After the U.S. Supreme Court decided Obergefell v. Hodges in 2015, legalizing same-sex marriage nationwide, Gaetz said he disagreed with the court's ruling. Matt is devoted to the values upon which our country was . "To be fair, Gaetzthe same Matt Gaetz who faces potential sex trafficking charges, which he deniesdid also tweet today to free Britney Spears, which kind of makes him a freedom fighter." . Let us all endeavor to keep it that way." -Congressman Matt Gaetz Ex-commander of US forces in Europe challenges Matt Gaetz for smirking at military chief The congressman claims military members 'loathe' critical race theory, but provided no evidence to. Their plans to target health care programs follow demands from a group of conservatives that helped elect House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) over the weekend. Their withholding of votes prevented McCarthy earning a majority of votes needed for the speakership. Being a technically and tactically proficient member a 12-man, Special Forces ODA. [56] During the tour, Gaetz and Greene repeated debunked claims of fraud in the 2020 election, attacked Big Tech and, at one event, claimed that the Second Amendment was for "maintaining, within the citizenry, the ability to maintain an armed rebellion against the government, if that becomes necessary. The image used . "I respect your. [122] On April 8, it was revealed that Trump had reportedly wanted to defend Gaetz, but that his advisors talked him out of it due to the seriousness of the allegations. Congressman Matt Gaetz (FL-01) joined Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) and the Florida congressional delegation in urging U.S. Air Force Assistant Secretary John Henderson to consider eight Florida locations for the future home of the United States Space Command (SPACECOM). [185][186][187] A few days later, on March 9, Gaetz's office reported that he had been in contact with a Conservative Political Action Conference attendee who tested positive for COVID-19. [223] The charges against Gaetz were dismissed. Minute after it went online career in the department is ' In several commercials during his 2016 congressional campaign, Gaetz promised to "kill Muslim terrorists and build the wall". Master Sgt. [225][226] The investigation of Greenberg led federal officials to look into some of Gaetz's related activities. The U.S.-based EcoHealth Alliance that worked with the Institute under a grant the Trump administration approved eventually had that funding withdrawn. [76] Gaetz and Merrill separately told Politico that Gaetz paid below-market rent for the space, but Gaetz later said that the rent was "at or below market rate". "[241] By the end of the Trump administration, Greenberg was under indictment, investigators had been questioning some Gaetz associates, and federal agents had seized the phone of one of Gaetz's former girlfriends. No one is listening to fat generals who can't do a single pull up. [37] Bush emailed Gaetz about introducing a bill to change the 2016 Florida Republican presidential primary to an earlier date in order to benefit Bush, Florida's former governor. [108], On February 23, 2017, worried about protesters disrupting his appearance at his town hall in Pace, Florida, Gaetz prepared what his staffers called a nonverbal town hall. . "[61][114], In May 2018, Gaetz was one of 18 House Republicans to vote to nominate Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize for his role in peace talks with North Korea. He printed out part of his speech onto giant boards that he would hold up if he was unable to speak. They reached a boiling point and these guys marched in and said we want to know what's going on. [106] Gaetz has introduced the STATES Act to prevent federal interference in states that have legalized cannabis for medical or recreational purposes. In 2005, the military decided to locate the training program for the new F-35 Joint Strike Fighter program at Eglin. At the meeting, he was questioned about his relationship with Trump, his stance on repealing the Affordable Care Act, and his proposal to abolish the Environmental Protection Agency. But you weren't interested in whether the Russians interfered through Steeleand if Steele was lying, then you should have charged him with lying like you charged a variety of other people.