Re: Gaetz's: FL's age of consent is 18, but in MOST states the age of consent is 16 or 17. This is why the trafficking charge is so important, and probably why we have not heard allegations of rape (at least not yet). aspe.hhs.gov/report/statutoβ¦).
Federal law on child trafficking, however, applies to anyone under 18, if they are recruited and meet this definition "commercial sex act means any sex act, on account of which anything of value is given to or received by any person."
This is why Gaetz's "giving gifts to girlfriends" defense is so entirely hollow. If there was a quid pro quo exchange, it's not a gift. Gaetz's and Greenberg's OPSEC was terrible and the 17 yo has reportedly testified ... so the feds know.
Also notable, the penalty for obstructing an investigation (up to 25 years) is potentially as bad as the penalty for trafficking a 14-18 yo (10 to life) - hard to imagine that Gaetz hasn't tried to obstruct.
The above is a long-winded explanation for why "it's not prostitution, it's rape" is not nuanced enough for this kind of case. it is not necessarily rape (because age of consent may have been 16), and "commercial sex act" may be the hook on which trafficking rests.
There is a separate section which applies to transporting a minor across state lines ... that also only applies to prostitution or other criminal conduct.
It would be a very close call if this would criminalize a non-commercial 35 yo meeting a 17yo in a state w/ 16 yo age of consent. (My guess no). But if 35 yo PAID for the travel etc. for purpose of sex ... then that would open the gaetz to prosecution.
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Dear @npr@cbs@ABC@NBCNews@CNN@MSNBC - Republicans WANT mass shootings, radical anti-gov militias, and murdered innocents. They have proven this over and over and over. It is inescapable. This is not a constitutional policy debate. They want blood and death and mayhem.
This is war. We must win on our superior values. We respect women, we love factual news, BUT WE CAN'T LET OUR VALUES BE WEAPONIZED TO DESTROY ALL WE HOLD DEAR. A thread. Please share.
Here's the thing. You can't make it as a Republican WITHOUT a sex scandal, because that party must OWN you. Boebert's husband exposed himself to a teen girl. Greene did whatever this is.... vanityfair.com/news/2021/02/mβ¦
Trump - Putin and the mob own Trump and deliver him "wives"; Pence ... I mean he's a walking skeleton in the closet; Marco Rubio and "foam parties"; Gaetz and his "son"; Gym Jordan and his horrors ... you can't be a trusted R henchmen unless they own you by your scandals.
For all of you that ripped Wray and Rosenstein for NOT talking to the media (or for chastising those that did), this is why. Federal prosecutors should never talk to the media about prosecutions. Let the pleadings speak for themselves.
This is ALSO why its so important to read Mueller's/Rosenstein's pleadings ... because that is where they are allowed to lay out the road map of the attack ... not in press releases.
This is ALSO why Comey was so, so, so very wrong about his decision to hold a press conference about HRC and then announceleak the reopening of the investigation.
Not even sure "mark" even captures it, since that includes something of having to be convinced. Rudy, faced with a "15" yo purported info ally ... his first response was to reach for his crinkledx.
And this is in the United States with a film crew and cameras within 15 feet. He's not anxious about it. Not worried that it will reflect poorly on his client or his mission. It's part of the normal payoff for being a traitor.