Posit (plausibly I'd say)that Gaetz & Greenberg had sex w/ the same woman who was 17 at the time. He has staked his public reputation on insisting that never happened. But he has to now think that Greenberg will testify it did. AND, given what an impeachable witness Greenberg is,
he has to further posit that the feds have corroborating evidence, e.g in the form of testimony from the victim. Does he now try a modified mea culpa in the public arena to try to salvage his public reput? If he does, that kind of sinks him at trial, where it can be used v. him.
And it doesn't do much in the criminal arena, where the law provides that if he had opportunity to observe her, he can't claim, as presumably would be his line, that he didn't know she was 17 --his knowledge is assumed. Moreover, how is he going to make that argument to the jury?
only one way really -- by testifying. and that could be really ugly. he at least wants to preserve the possibility of not taking the stand, On the other hand, if he's found guilty of having had sex w/ a 17 year old in exchange for e.g high end hotels and dinners, he's looking
at a 10-year minimum sentence. so doesn't he have to forget about everything else, inc his political fortunes, and do whatever he can to beat that charge back? but if he's forced out of Congress, doesn't that hurt his chances at trial? etc etc.
and this is just one, albeit a big one, of the many decisions and dilemmas that now will occupy his days. Very difficult ride ahead.
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