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An attorney representing two women who testified before the House Ethics Committee told ABC News in an interview that former Rep. Matt Gaetz paid both his adult clients for sex.

Florida attorney Joel Leppard told ABC News' Juju Chang that one of his clients also witnessed Gaetz having sex with a third woman -- who was then 17 years old -- at a house party in Florida.

"She testified [that] in July of 2017, at this house party, she was walking out to the pool area, and she looked to her right, and she saw Rep. Gaetz having sex with her friend, who was 17," Leppard said.

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FireAg said:

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Then show us the Venmo transaction…

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FireAg said:

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Then show us the Venmo transaction…

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Just to be clear, both of your clients testified that they were paid by Rep. Gaetz to have sex?" Chang asked Leppard.

"That's correct. The House was very clear about that and went through each. They essentially put the Venmo payments on the screen and asked about them. And my clients repeatedly testified, 'What was this payment for?' 'That was for sex,'" Leppard said.

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J. Walter Weatherman said:

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FireAg said:

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Then show us the Venmo transaction…

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I'm guessing it'll be in the report once it comes out? I'm assuming he wasn't dumb enough to put "underage hookers" in the subject line though.

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Leppard also told ABC News that his client testified to House Ethics Committee that, based on her knowledge, Gaetz stopped having sex with the minor after he learned she was underage.

"Her understanding was that Matt Gaetz did not know that she was a minor, and that when he learned that she was a minor, that he broke off things and did not continue a sexual relationship until she turned 18," Leppard said.

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J. Walter Weatherman said:

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FireAg said:

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Then show us the Venmo transaction…

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I'm guessing it'll be in the report once it comes out? I'm assuming he wasn't dumb enough to put "underage hookers" in the subject line though.

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Im Gipper said:

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FireAg said:

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Then show us the Venmo transaction…

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They were allegedly shown to the committee. Do you think all of the testimony should be released?

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Just to be clear, both of your clients testified that they were paid by Rep. Gaetz to have sex?" Chang asked Leppard.

"That's correct. The House was very clear about that and went through each. They essentially put the Venmo payments on the screen and asked about them. And my clients repeatedly testified, 'What was this payment for?' 'That was for sex,'" Leppard said.

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Bob Knights Paper Hands said:

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Does being a member of Congress prevent you from being charged with solicitation of prostitution? Was a 17 year old under the age of consent in the jurisdiction they state this happened?

We've had so much bull**** recently, that I don't care what CBS or establishment types in Congress say. My give a **** meter doesn't register this if it's just a media blitz without action. Either arrest him for what you claim to have credible evidence of or STFU. Next.

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Im Gipper said:

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J. Walter Weatherman said:

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FireAg said:

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Then show us the Venmo transaction…

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I'm guessing it'll be in the report once it comes out? I'm assuming he wasn't dumb enough to put "underage hookers" in the subject line though.

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There is no allegation he paid the minor I've seen

Further, the story is he didn't know she was a minor:

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Leppard also told ABC News that his client testified to House Ethics Committee that, based on her knowledge, Gaetz stopped having sex with the minor after he learned she was underage.

"Her understanding was that Matt Gaetz did not know that she was a minor, and that when he learned that she was a minor, that he broke off things and did not continue a sexual relationship until she turned 18," Leppard said.

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If they exist, why did DOJ "miss" them?

I'll hang up and listen, counselor…

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Im Gipper said:

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Did the hookers bring the minor?

Reads to me like they saw there there.

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An attorney representing two women who testified before the House Ethics Committee told ABC News in an interview that former Rep. Matt Gaetz paid both his adult clients for sex.

Florida attorney Joel Leppard told ABC News' Juju Chang that one of his clients also witnessed Gaetz having sex with a third woman -- who was then 17 years old -- at a house party in Florida.

"She testified [that] in July of 2017, at this house party, she was walking out to the pool area, and she looked to her right, and she saw Rep. Gaetz having sex with her friend, who was 17," Leppard said.

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akm91 said:

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Let's not forget the DOJ investigated and declined top prosecute Gaetz. So my question is whether or not this woman came forward during the DOJ investigation? If not, then how can anyone take what these women say seriously?

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The two witnesses, who ABC News is not naming, both allegedly attended parties with the then-congressman and testified in both the DOJ and House Ethics investigations.

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FireAg said:

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Im Gipper said:

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FireAg said:

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Then show us the Venmo transaction…

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They were allegedly shown to the committee. Do you think all of the testimony should be released?

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Just to be clear, both of your clients testified that they were paid by Rep. Gaetz to have sex?" Chang asked Leppard.

"That's correct. The House was very clear about that and went through each. They essentially put the Venmo payments on the screen and asked about them. And my clients repeatedly testified, 'What was this payment for?' 'That was for sex,'" Leppard said.

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If they exist, why did DOJ "miss" them?

I'll hang up and listen, counselor…

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Im Gipper said:

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If they exist, why did DOJ "miss" them?

I'll hang up and listen, counselor…

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No idea. Guessing they saw them IF they exist.

You didn't answer my question btw

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Does it really matter why a seventeen year old was at a "house party" with admitted hookers present, pursuant to an invitation, I presume? If they didn't bring her with them, how she know about the party and get an invitation as well? As in she's a seventeen year old hooker too?

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Release the report…release the evidence…

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FireAg said:

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What is the prerequisite experience?

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Im Gipper said:

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squabbles bubble up in January in the senate hearings (not just Gaetz), and Johnson and Thune both adjourn for a couple weeks (fake news piece crying about it). Two consecutive 210 day terms as a recess appointee, as long as the senate is adjourned for 10 days (SCOTUS precedent).

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I believe you're conflicting two things here.

The 210 day terms is under the Vacancies Reform Act for people appointed as "acting". Discussed above why it doesn't apply to Gaetz.

A recess appointment would last until the end of the session. Discussed on other threads why Gaetz may not qualify.

FTR, my guess is that Trump does one of the above and just let it play out in the courts while Gaetz stays in the AG role. (Where he eventually loses)

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1. Appoint Gaetz and Hegseth as "First Assistants" to Key Roles
The most straightforward route under the FVRA is to ensure that Matt Gaetz and Pete Hegseth become the first assistants to the roles they are ultimately intended to assume. The act stipulates that a "first assistant" can automatically step in as the acting head when a vacancy occurs.

To achieve this, Trump would need to create or redesignate positions for both Gaetz and Hegsethlet's call them "Principal Deputy" positionsin the very departments they would ultimately lead. By appointing Gaetz as Principal Deputy of the Attorney General, for example, and similarly elevating Hegseth to a deputy position at the Department of Defense, Trump establishes them as the "first assistants" within the agency's leadership hierarchy.

This approach hinges on the simple principle of agency protocol: when the primary official steps down, the first assistant becomes the acting official, per FVRA guidelines. Thus, Trump could orchestrate a vacancy by removing the current officeholder or encouraging their resignation. Once a vacancy arises, Gaetz or Hegseth, being the official first assistant, would step into the acting role.

2. Create a Vacancy and Trigger the FVRA
Once Gaetz and Hegseth are installed in their newly crafted deputy roles, the next logical step would be to vacate the main position. This can be achieved either by requesting a resignation or by reassigning the current official. The moment this happens, the Federal Vacancies Reform Act kicks in, allowing the first assistant to serve as acting officer for up to 210 days.

During this time, Trump could then submit a nominee for the Senate to confirm. The clever twist here is that Trump doesn't need to submit Gaetz or Hegseth as nominees for the permanent rolehe can nominate someone entirely different. The submission of a nominee extends the duration of Gaetz's or Hegseth's acting tenure for as long as the nomination remains under consideration.

3. Utilize Senate Recesses and Extension Provisions
The FVRA allows for strategic extensions under specific circumstances. If the Senate happens to be in recess when the vacancy occurs or while a nomination is being reviewed, the 210-day clock can be paused. Therefore, by timing the initial appointments to coincide with known periods of Senate recesssuch as major holidays or adjournmentsTrump can effectively extend the acting duration of his appointees without having to secure Senate approval.

Furthermore, if the Senate rejects or withdraws the nominee, Trump can use this as a tool to reset the 210-day clock. This tactic could be repeated with multiple nominees, thus creating an extended cycle during which Gaetz and Hegseth can continue to serve in an acting capacity. Each rejection or withdrawal of a nominee effectively gives another 210-day term, during which the acting official can remain in the role.

Mitigating Legal Challenges
The Senate is not likely to let this move go unanswered, and lawsuits are all but guaranteed. Trump has experience in this arena, as the courts have previously weighed in on his appointment of Ken Cuccinelli in the Department of Homeland Security, deeming it unlawful for not following proper procedures.

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Im Gipper said:

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Release the report…release the evidence…

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We disagree on this.

It's not fair to Gaetz.

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The campaign against President-Elect Donald J. Trump's Attorney General pick, Congressman Matt Gaetz, begins in earnest today. Local Florida lawyer named Joel Leppard is set to make egregious claims about Gaetz in unchallenged media interviews.

Leppard, an Orlando-based specialist in personal injury claims and getting people off driving under the influence (DUI) charges, is understood to be touring Manhattan studios on Monday peddling the same debunked claims made about Gaetz three years ago.

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Since when in the last 8+ years has DOJ or factions in Congress been concerned with being "fair"?

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aggiehawg said:

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Return of the Creepy Porn Lawyer?

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The campaign against President-Elect Donald J. Trump's Attorney General pick, Congressman Matt Gaetz, begins in earnest today. Local Florida lawyer named Joel Leppard is set to make egregious claims about Gaetz in unchallenged media interviews.

Leppard, an Orlando-based specialist in personal injury claims and getting people off driving under the influence (DUI) charges, is understood to be touring Manhattan studios on Monday peddling the same debunked claims made about Gaetz three years ago.

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LINK

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Im Gipper said:

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📺On February 5, 1983, NBC aired the ‘Diff’rent Strokes’ episode, ‘The Bicycle Man,’ in which, Arnold and Dudley become friends with the owner of a local bicycle shop, unaware that he is a pedophile pic.twitter.com/Tx54KxgDoB

— RetroNewsNow (@RetroNewsNow) February 6, 2023

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Tailgate88 said:

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aggiehawg said:

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Return of the Creepy Porn Lawyer?

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The campaign against President-Elect Donald J. Trump's Attorney General pick, Congressman Matt Gaetz, begins in earnest today. Local Florida lawyer named Joel Leppard is set to make egregious claims about Gaetz in unchallenged media interviews.

Leppard, an Orlando-based specialist in personal injury claims and getting people off driving under the influence (DUI) charges, is understood to be touring Manhattan studios on Monday peddling the same debunked claims made about Gaetz three years ago.

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LINK

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CPL2?
CPL2024?
CPL_Floridaman?

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CPL2?
CPL2024?
CPL_Floridaman?

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aggiehawg said:

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CPL2?
CPL2024?
CPL_Floridaman?

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We'll see how many cable networks have this guy on tomorrow. And if the hosts are admiring a DUI lawyer as having "Presidential potential."

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FireAg said:

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That's what I keep coming back to…where's the proof???

We have hearsay from this person or that who would have motivations to tell a story…

But here is the proof?

The receipts? Text messages? Cash withdrawals? Money transactions?

All we have are unsubstantiated claims about a guy who is dangerous to several establishment types…

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According to the letter from Gaetz to the committee that was posted early on in this thread, they have jailhouse tapes of the plot to frame him being hatched between his accuser and a guy who was already in jail for trying to setup somebody else the same way. The fact that no news organization is asking to see that evidence is proof enough for me that the fix is in with the uniparty folks. Hope he gets a recess appt.

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aggiehawg said:

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According to the letter from Gaetz to the committee that was posted early on in this thread, they have jailhouse tapes of the plot to frame him being hatched between his accuser and a guy who was already in jail for trying to setup somebody else the same way. The fact that no news organization is asking to see that evidence is proof enough for me that the fix is in with the uniparty folks. Hope he gets a recess appt.

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That makes sense to me. How does a DUI lawyer end up representing two self confessed adult hookers? he takes low level crim cases to supplement his PI income which is hit and miss but always takes a long time, unless he settles out quickly for the nuisance value cash and takes 33-40 of the settlement as fees, PLUS costs added onto that.

He is the Florida version of Saul Goodman.

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Or Michael Avenatti.

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aggiehawg said:

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Im Gipper said:

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Did the hookers bring the minor?

Reads to me like they saw there there.

Quote:

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An attorney representing two women who testified before the House Ethics Committee told ABC News in an interview that former Rep. Matt Gaetz paid both his adult clients for sex.

Florida attorney Joel Leppard told ABC News' Juju Chang that one of his clients also witnessed Gaetz having sex with a third woman -- who was then 17 years old -- at a house party in Florida.

"She testified [that] in July of 2017, at this house party, she was walking out to the pool area, and she looked to her right, and she saw Rep. Gaetz having sex with her friend, who was 17," Leppard said.

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Does it really matter why a seventeen year old was at a "house party" with admitted hookers present, pursuant to an invitation, I presume? If they didn't bring her with them, how she know about the party and get an invitation as well? As in she's a seventeen year old hooker too?

Those Florida "house parties" are infamous for a lot of reasons. JFF and Sumlin were at at least one when Johnny was collecting some awards. Stories started coming out about that party but were quickly quashed at the time. Hookers love to work the party circuit. No fuss, no muss no waiting for the next john to come around and very lucrative. Diddy fest Florida style.

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