After Matt Gaetz’s remark about ‘odious women,’ a sex trafficking investigation is mentioned.
Republican Rep. Matt Gaetz, who is under federal investigation for alleged sex trafficking of a 17-year-old girl, is facing backlash on social media after making fat-phobic and misogynist remarks about abortion rights activists to a college audience on Saturday, calling those protesting in support of abortion “disgusting.”
“Have you seen these pro-abortion, pro-murder rallies?” the Florida congressman asked the teenagers gathered at Tampa’s Turning Point USA Student Action Summit.
“The people are revolting. Why is it that the women who are least likely to become pregnant are the ones who are most concerned about having abortions? Nobody wants to impregnate you if you have the appearance of a thumb “Gaetz made a remark.
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“These people are vile on the inside. They’re about 5’2” and 350 pounds, and they say, ‘Give me my abortions or I’ll march and protest.’ And I’m wondering—march? You appear to have ankles that are weaker than the legal reasoning behind Roe v. Wade “he told a cheering crowd.
“A few of them need to get up and march — they need to march for an hour every day. Swing those arms, get your blood pumping, and maybe throw in a salad “He finished.
On social media, Gaetz’s tirade drew widespread condemnation.
His remarks were described as “cartoonishly misogynist” by the feminist news website Jezebel.
Journalist Molly Jong-Fast tweeted a clip from Gaetz’s speech, citing the congressman’s words as an example of misogyny.
Many of those who criticised the congressman and his comments brought up the scandal that Gaetz has been embroiled in since last year, when The New York Times revealed that the Justice Department was investigating him for alleged sex trafficking of a 17-year-old girl.
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The federal investigation into Gaetz was reportedly launched in the final months of Donald Trump’s presidency as a result of a previous investigation into the Florida congressman’s political ally, Joel Greenberg, who pleaded guilty to sex trafficking.
Investigators are still trying to determine whether Gaetz had sexual relations with an underage girl and paid for her to travel across states with him, which is considered sex trafficking under federal law.
So far, only a few details about the investigation have leaked. Gaetz has been charged with nothing.
According to the Washington Post, Gaetz used to arrange dates with women in exchange for dinner or hotel stays, which could be illegal if there was a clear exchange of money for sex. According to the newspaper, Greenberg wrote a letter accusing Gaetz of paying for sex with women.
According to the Daily Beast, Gaetz transferred $900 to Greenberg via Venmo, saying “hit up ___,” a nickname for the 17-year-old.
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Gaetz has always denied the allegations, claiming that the last time he had sex with a 17-year-old was when he was 17 himself. Gaetz has been contacted by Newsweek for comment.
In scathing responses to Gaetz’s comments in Tampa, his critics on social media brought up the allegations that are being investigated against him.
“Says the guy whose wingman Joel Greenberg is currently cooperating with the feds,” one said in response to Jong-video. Fast’s
Others mentioned Gaetz’s alleged Venmo payments.
Gaetz’s remarks were particularly incendiary in light of recent events in the United States, in which a 10-year-old rape victim was denied an abortion in her own state and had to travel to another to receive the procedure.
Some critics also pointed out how Gaetz’s words echoed Trump’s logic in denying a sexual assault allegation made by writer E. Jean Carroll in an interview with The Hill, when he said she wasn’t “his type.”
“Matt Gaetz believes that women who support abortion rights are too ugly to benefit from them.” Trump claims that he could not have raped his victims because they were not his type. Republicans see a 10-year-rape old’s as a “opportunity.”
“Ladies, they hate us because they fear us,” wrote one Twitter user in response to Gaetz’s tweet.
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