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Will there be a trial? Will he be found guilty? What will the consequences be? I'll admit I was incredibly confused by this story because I'd always just assumed Gaetz is sixteen
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Will there be a trial? Will he be found guilty? What will the consequences be? I'll admit I was incredibly confused by this story because I'd always just assumed Gaetz is sixteen
"One day, we shall die. All the other days, we shall live."
This is the same creep who bragged about having a 19 year old cuban poolboy to show he wasn't racist. Then had to clarify that he wasn't actually gay.
It's always projection with these asshats.
"In a field where an overlooked bug could cost millions, you want people who will speak their minds, even if they’re sometimes obnoxious about it."
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Well that explains it
Except that he was in a sexual relationship with a minor whom he basically trafficked for sex the interview with Carlson was a work of art
"One day, we shall die. All the other days, we shall live."
"In a field where an overlooked bug could cost millions, you want people who will speak their minds, even if they’re sometimes obnoxious about it."
I don't know the case and won't bother to inform myself.
But I would like to point out that rules against human trafficking are regularly used against people who are not engaged in human trafficking in any real meaning of the term.
Congratulations America
In this particular case the charge appears to stem from Gaetz (allegedly) paying to enable a minor to cross state lines in order to have sex with her (ie. pay for her travel- & hotel costs).
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This seems more implausible but the writers have been on a roll this season
"One day, we shall die. All the other days, we shall live."
I know the charges. But I also know how low the bar is placed. Helping refugees for example is easily framed as human trafficking. People have gone to prison for pickin up hitch hikers.
Congratulations America
No, I get that—I'm saying that that's where the bar is placed, in this case. The bar for the (potential) charge of sex trafficking in the case of Matt Gaetz and the 17-y-o girl appears to be "did he pay any money to enable a 17-y-o girl to travel to another state for the purpose of having sex with her?" afaict. Prosecutors will always go as far as the law lets them go.
"One day, we shall die. All the other days, we shall live."
Same here, I think. Though it would certainly be a political scandal leading to resignation. Also makes you vulnerable for blackmail, which is not something you want from people with access to sensitive and secret information.
Of course any additional allegations like the drugs and using campaign money would be illegal here as well. And if he paid for sex, prostitution is of course illegal for minors as well.
Side note, calling paying for your date's hotel and travel expenses trafficking seems a bit much. If having sex with a minor is illegal, it's statutory rape I suppose, but this doesn't seem like what's the intent of anti trafficking laws. Unless there's details we're not aware of.
Keep on keepin' the beat alive!
In general, I think the intent of the US criminal code—esp. when it comes to sex—is to punish perpetrators as much as possible... or to threaten them with as much punishment as possible, in order to pressure them into accepting plea bargains.
"One day, we shall die. All the other days, we shall live."
Sure, but in my opinion that's not a good approach, and it still isn't when I strongly dislike the person under investigation.
That said, if that'd how the US rolls, they of course shouldn't give him any special treatment, so I imagine that includes jailtime and registering as a sex offender if found guilty.
Keep on keepin' the beat alive!
In this particular instance, part of the issue is that the Feds had to step in to stop constant legal battles between states with different Age-of-Consent laws as people tried to circumvent more restrictive ones (and of course those particular states are the ones which cared the most about seeing their laws enforced) and in order for them to regulate, they have to come at it in a certain way.
Last night as I lay in bed, looking up at the stars, I thought, “Where the hell is my ceiling?"
Well, the way it's used is typically American.
Congratulations America
Yes, of course, and I added that if he paid (= prostitution) it'd be illegal, but would paying for her hotel (so not paying her, just her expenses) count as paying for sex?
If he is alleged to have actually paid her, I missed that, my apologies. Thought it was about him paying her trip and hotel.
Keep on keepin' the beat alive!
It would not be relevant. Giving her money in direct exchange or paying for her ticket, hotel and expenses would still fall under the definition of engaging in prostitution with a minor. As soon as there is an exchange of anything of value in combination with a sexual relationship you're almost certain of being guilty of prostitution if the other person is under 18.
I may be mistaken but I think that's probably also the reason with which you justify the existence of the law he is accused of breaking in the US. For Congress to legislate an element of trade should be present in the facts.
Congratulations America
Sex with anyone underage is automatically criminal in the first place, whether anything is paid for or not.
If a date is consensual and appropriate then paying for rooms etc is not prostitution.
If a date is not consensual it is rape and should be prosecuted regardless of paying for rooms etc.
If its consensual and legal then what's the problem? Legally.
As I said in the UK the age of consent is 16 - albeit 18 if the older person is in a position of trust over the individual. So this would be creepy but legal here.
Being a creep isn't illegal. It is however something voters might want to judge someone by.
Paying for shared drinks, meals, accomodations, etc. is not. Paying for theirs explicitly/exclusively, OTOH. . . which is why paying for the travel is always brought up in these cases, even if it doesn't involve crossing any state lines.
Yeah. If your date can't pay their own way travel-wise then you're opening yourself to prosecution if you won't pick them up yourself. Incidentally "will you pay my gas" is one of the most frequently used euphemisms for "pay-to-play" in the hook-up social media subset in my area. Though it still does not begin to compare to all the people offering their "certified massage services".
Last night as I lay in bed, looking up at the stars, I thought, “Where the hell is my ceiling?"