Birds of a Feather
Okay, campers, we have a plug-in-the-bad-guy game for today’s campfire treat.
With his legal troubles still looming over him, U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz’s campaign paid $25,000 last month to a law firm that represented convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, Mexican drug lord El Chapo and former mobsters, according to his most recent campaign finance report.
Okay, here’s the deal. I am not certain that’s a legacy of legal accomplishments that I would want to depend upon for my life and freedom.
I mean, damn, Jeffrey Epstein had so little faith in his lawyer getting him off, that he offed himself, or at the very least, his lawyer was really awful at protecting his client. And El Chapo got sentenced to life in prison. I’d be all for Gaetz finding the same results, which would be only fitting a serial child predator, especially if they locked him in the same cell as El Chapo.
I’m thinking Gaetz just wanted a lawyer with experience.
But, here’s the catch.
Brett Kappel, a nationally recognized campaign finance expert, said if a criminal case involves bribery or campaign finance violations, then it would be okay to use a campaign account to pay those legal fees.
“They may not, however, use campaign funds to pay legal fees for investigations into personal activities unrelated to their campaigns or duties as a member of Congress,” Kappel said.
So, it seems to me that Gaetz is kinda loudly announcing that we can expect bribery or misuse of campaign funds added to his legal troubles. It also seems to me that we shouldn’t be surprised.
Or, maybe is actually is a dumb as he looks. It wouldn’t surprise me if he wasn’t aware of the niceties of campaign finance laws.
1With some of the expenditures you’ve reported on Ted Cruz campaign funds, nothing is going to surprise me with a man even scummier.
2And to top off his week, he and mt greene couldn’t find a venue in so cal for their grifters duet tour. I think he’s personally broke. Damn I wish they’d get with it and get this guy on trial and convicted.
3I’m thinking Gaetz just wanted a lawyer with experience.
That might be part of it, but my observation is that people most often pick lawyers that are sympathetic to them. They like a lawyer that speaks their language or, best of all, is of the opinion that what they are accused of shouldn’t be a crime in the first place.
4Steve from Beaverton …
Gaetz isn’t likely to be broke — and young as he is, he’s not exactly rich, either. Congressional declaration of assets and debts have him around $700,000. His leveraged money in real estate appears more liquid than usual, as Dad’s real estate corporation has been willing to buy some at convenient times. Beyond his salary, he appears to continue to be on the boards of some family companies and a nonprofit.
But Dad Gaetz is estimated to have $40 million. His fiance (still!) Ms. Luckey has an estimated $300 k, and her family has additional money, too.
As for timing — his involvement broke into public near the end of March. It SEEMS like forever, but it hasn’t been that long.
5I suppose he thought his behavior was campaign-related, as constituent relations.
6I’m picturing El Chapo’s new lawyer complaining that his client doesn’t deserve to share a cell with this pervert.
7