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¦).
https://twitter.com/DirkSchwenk/status/1379122875219779588
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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