Yet another example of incompetence or corruption, or both, at the FBI | Eastern NC Now

Last night, amidst a slew of far more important stories, The New York Times sought to change the narrative from the disaster at the border by leaking about a supposed investigation involving Rep. Matt Gaetz. The report was based on anonymous sources giving very vague information about what might or might not be going on.

Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) has been the subject of an inquiry by the US Department of Justice into whether he had a sexual relationship with a 17-year-old girl and paid for her to travel with him. Three people who had been briefed on the matter told the New York Times that investigators are examining whether Gaetz violated federal sex trafficking laws, the people said.

For his part, Gaetz denies the claims. He went on Tucker Carlson’s show last night and named a person he alleges is trying to extort him. Later, RedState confirmed that Gaetz was telling the truth about his father wearing a wire for the FBI to investigate the matter. Where that leaves us is anyone’s guess. Gaetz is certainly a character, and his defense is a bit convoluted, but the fact that this was leaked via “three people briefed” is yet another black-eye for the FBI.

Really, it should bother everyone, no matter their feelings on Gaetz, that the FBI can just leak something like this, to attack someone in such a blatantly political way. When you are facing an anonymous allegation, you can’t respond to it in any effective manner. Just last night, the reporter behind the Times story appeared on Rachel Maddow’s show and countered Gaetz’s claim about the man he named, yet she did so offering no proof whatsoever. These games are rigged, and you aren’t supposed to be able to defend yourself.

Further, this makes the FBI look really stupid. You’re telling me that the FBI needs a multi-year investigation to prove whether Gaetz traveled with a 17-year-old? Shouldn’t that be readily apparent or quickly disproven given the simplicity of the evidence involved?

If the FBI is not going to charge Gaetz for anything, and they should know by now whether he did anything wrong, then they should come out publicly and slap this report down. By letting it hang in the air, it makes them look like they are part of the political play here, and perhaps they are. It also makes them look incompetent, and again, perhaps they are.