Far-right Congressman Matt Gaetz (R-FL) continues to grapple with the federal investigation into his alleged sex trafficking of a minor.
The public disclosure of the investigation led to a host of revelations regarding his behavior in office—allegations that he showed nude photographs of women he had sex with to his colleagues on the House floor and that he played a game with representatives in the Florida legislature assigning points to sexual conquests.
For his defense, Gaetz insists that none of the allegations are true, and that they're part of an extortion effort against him.
In an op-ed for the conservative-leaning Washington Examiner, Gaetz wrote:
"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."
Gaetz's claim that he's "not a monk" was further confirmed by a sleazy passage from his book, recently highlighted by Late Show host Stephen Colbert in a greater segment about the Congressman's alleged request for a blanket pardon from former President Trump.
Watch below.
Gaetz-Gaete: MAGA Die-Hards Stand Behind Creepy Florida Congressmanwww.youtube.com
Gaetz, a vocal advocate for former President Donald Trump, bragged about taking the former President's calls, writing:
"The President has called me when I was in my car, asleep in the middle of the night on my Longworth Office cot, on the throne, on airplanes, in nightclubs, and even in the throes of passion (yes, I answered)."
The Congressman's boast was met with extreme aversion from Colbert, who said:
"Thinking of Matt Gaetz having sex, I'm in the throws of up."
Colbert then pretended to dry heave—and Twitter had a similar reaction.
"Passion" *shudder* https://t.co/hvYJaHM2rv— chris evans (@chris evans) 1617757889.0
Oh. My. God. I feel like I'm going to throw up. https://t.co/R8gF2nskVS— AnthonyCaruso (@AnthonyCaruso) 1617758730.0
omg, GROSS https://t.co/vyG9DKj5Wt— Maise (@Maise) 1617815951.0
If I had to read it, YOU have to read it 🤮 https://t.co/yKUDqEymrJ— 😷 Tiffany 🇺🇸 (@😷 Tiffany 🇺🇸) 1617797412.0
That’s just gross. https://t.co/DBrgdbsf7q— Lisa Wetzelberger (@Lisa Wetzelberger) 1617760244.0
Gross. https://t.co/PxMnxdiMdr— Weldon McGill 😷 (@Weldon McGill 😷) 1617796374.0
On Thursday, news broke that Florida tax collector Joel Greenberg, a key figure in the investigation and a friend of Gaetz, would likely be cooperating with federal prosecutors in the investigation.
This has led to widespread speculation that Gaetz's goose is cooked.
If Greenberg is signing a cooperation agreement, it means he has information that can help the government prosecute… https://t.co/EXNqLBamXK— Daniel Goldman (@Daniel Goldman) 1617906055.0
Greenberg said likely to strike cooperation deal. That means Gaetz is toast.— Harry Litman (@Harry Litman) 1617904269.0
Matt Gaetz is going down. The only question is how hard.— Jon Cooper 🇺🇸 (@Jon Cooper 🇺🇸) 1617904219.0
The news broke almost at exactly the same time Gaetz's team published an unsigned letter from "the women of Gaetz's office" defending his character.