Could Matt Gaetz face life in prison?
REPUBLICAN Congressman Matt Gaetz is currently involved in a scandal regarding an alleged underaged sexual relationship he had.
The politician has denied all allegations and insists that this is a ploy to extort his family out of $25million.
Could Matt Gaetz face life in prison?
Republican politician Matt Gaetz, 38, could face nearly three decades in prison, 30 years of probation, and a hefty fine up to $10,000 if convicted for allegedly sleeping with an underage teen.
According to Florida Statute Section 787.06(3), the offense is punishable as a first-degree felony.
He is currently being investigated by the Justice Department and was also accused of allegedly paying sugar babies for ecstasy-fueled romps in hotels with pal Joel Greenberg, according to the New York Times.
The encounters occurred in 2019 and 2020, according to the Times, and Gaetz and Greenberg would allegedly instruct the women to meet them at hotels and specify the amount of money they were willing to pay.
Two people familiar with the meetings said some of those involved, including Gaetz, would take the ecstasy before having sex.
Greenberg was indicted on federal sex trafficking charges in 2020 and is believed to be dishing out dirt to investigators.
However, no formal charges have been brought against Gaetz.
Two sources also alleged to CNN that Gaetz showed off explicit content of women he had relationships with, including while on the House floor.
One of them claimed that they directly saw the content, which reportedly depicted a naked woman with a hula hoop.
The source said “It was a point of pride,” for the politician.
What did Matt Gaetz say about the allegations?
Gaetz’s office issued another statement on April 1 calling the new allegations “disgusting” and again maintaining the congressman’s innocence.
Most read in US News
“Matt Gaetz has never paid for sex,” the statement said. “Matt Gaetz refutes all the disgusting allegations completely.”
“Matt Gaetz has never ever been on any such websites whatsoever. Matt Gaetz cherishes the relationships in his past and looks forward to marrying the love of his life.”
The congressman told The Hill on Friday that has no plans to step down and rumors of his resignation are “false” and it is “very safe” to say he does not intend to quit.