Why Would Speaker Johnson Not Want Gaetz Ethics Report Released?
- Thread starter noStemsnoSTICKS
- Start date
Here's the actual reality, based on what's publicly known and logical speculation.
Gaetz has allegedly done a bunch of unsavory shit. The kind of stuff that is well below the low standards of Congress. Some of the stuff that has been alleged is criminal in nature, but federal prosecutors determined not to prosecute.
So there's no reason to think there's a smoking gun in terms of criminal stuff.
It's also the kind of stuff that Republicans would have no problem ignoring. Think about the shit they tolerate from MTG, Boebert and others.
But Gaetz is disliked among his colleagues and helped sink McCarthy. So he got an investigation. So in some sense, by selectively upholding terribly low standards, it's a bit of a hit job. By the Republican congress.
All of this would have proceeded without folks like hawkedoff conjuring fantasies, because who really gives a shit about saving Gaetz?
That's until the total surprise of Trump nominating him for AG. Even the cultists didn't see that coming and were a little put off.
So now that the guy who has had a grip on the Republican party for almost a decade, the guy who can end political careers with a few tweets/truths has tapped Gaetz for AG, GOP lawmakers have to fall in line.
Which means trying to protect him by not releasing the report. Which in effect really means protecting GOP senators who vote to confirm him.
Because the reality is that there's nothing that could possibly be contained in the report that would actually bother the GOP base. But there's certainly things that would bother moderates who could flip things in 2026, or embarrass Trump. And that's about all they care about.
Gaetz has allegedly done a bunch of unsavory shit. The kind of stuff that is well below the low standards of Congress. Some of the stuff that has been alleged is criminal in nature, but federal prosecutors determined not to prosecute.
So there's no reason to think there's a smoking gun in terms of criminal stuff.
It's also the kind of stuff that Republicans would have no problem ignoring. Think about the shit they tolerate from MTG, Boebert and others.
But Gaetz is disliked among his colleagues and helped sink McCarthy. So he got an investigation. So in some sense, by selectively upholding terribly low standards, it's a bit of a hit job. By the Republican congress.
All of this would have proceeded without folks like hawkedoff conjuring fantasies, because who really gives a shit about saving Gaetz?
That's until the total surprise of Trump nominating him for AG. Even the cultists didn't see that coming and were a little put off.
So now that the guy who has had a grip on the Republican party for almost a decade, the guy who can end political careers with a few tweets/truths has tapped Gaetz for AG, GOP lawmakers have to fall in line.
Which means trying to protect him by not releasing the report. Which in effect really means protecting GOP senators who vote to confirm him.
Because the reality is that there's nothing that could possibly be contained in the report that would actually bother the GOP base. But there's certainly things that would bother moderates who could flip things in 2026, or embarrass Trump. And that's about all they care about.
That they didn't squash this 2 years ago tells me there's more than just stuff that might make them blush.
Undoubtedly it's stuff that no AG has ever been credibly accused of, but since Trump is Trump... They've got to try and carry the water.
What's particularly stupid to me in this case - history tells us stuff like this doesn't stay buried forever. It ALWAYS comes out eventually.
Of course in today's environment, reality only matters so much. People like the wop will assume Trump 4D chess. Hawkedoff will think it's all a Democrat fabrication.
They have normalized the most aberrant behavior in order to protect / promote Trump. Trump himself tolerates no independence or lack of subservience. They must confirm Gaetz or they will be on Dear Leader’s kill list.
This is a perfect example of why some people don’t understand the authoritarian nature of the Trump movement. Most Republicans know Gaetz is a scum bag. They are simply too afraid to speak up for fear of retribution, or figure they’ll get what they want by supporting the leader.
I sometimes wonder if there isn't anything that Trump wouldn't do for a Johnson, especially given what we saw him do to a microphone on the campaign trail.
Just sayin'.
