LaffyFIRST ON CNN: #DOJ officially decides not to charge Matt #Gaetz in sex-trafficking probe #GaetzGate
As I recall, there were witness credibility problems.
https://www.cnn.com/2023/02/15/politics/matt-gaetz-justice-department
2/ Via @emptywheel:
For those saying DOJ didn't charge Greenberg's co-conspirators, here's the prosecutions he got credit for.
Just bc they're not Matt Gaetz doesn't mean they're not dirtbags.
3/ Oops, I missed these posts by @emptywheel that preceded the one above:
For those asking why DOJ didn't charge Gaetz: One problem with the allegations is that the star witness -- Joel Greenberg -- MANUFACTURED an underage sex allegation against someone else. https://t.co/BkvWQwvVlh
Keep in mind a lot of what we heard abt Gaetz's corruption over years came from people in Greenberg's camp trying to increase the value of Greenberg's cooperation.
...
"An Entire Universe of Malfeasance, Corruption, and Depravity:" Joel Greenberg Promotes the Value of His Snitching - emptywheel
The Joel Greenberg sentencing memo reads like a Coen Brothers movie: Sex, ecstasy, rat-fucking, and flaming cryptocurrency servers. But the dispute over how much credit Greenberg should get for his cooperation provides important insight into press coverage about Matt Gaetz' ties to Greenberg.
4/ Greenberg had a big incentive to present the claims as unassailable, w/o any consideration of his value as witness
And for those asking about the (single) victim: She didn't want to testify. They didn't need her testimony against Greenberg bc he pled to it.
So those are your two main witnesses.
5/ Angry Staffer adds his two cents after reading Marcy's thread above.
"This makes sense.
Essentially, Gaetz skates because his coconspirator was a lying jackass and prosecutors didn’t believe they could get a conviction based on his testimony.
Yet, some people are attacking Garland for following his prosecutor’s recommendations. 🤦♂️"
Peter Leon@GottaLaff Yes. Prosecution was hampered by uncooperative and unreliable witnesses.
@Leonppascucci Exactly
Toot Uncommon Ω@GottaLaff It amazes this atty that DOJ is simultaneously extraordinarily competent yet, predictable to 100% accuracy years in advance, cant manage to indict a single R officeholder for high crimes committed out in the open for the world to witness (in this case venmo). But Im sure its all coincidence. As is letting county DAs, state AGs & the slowest deliberative body in the world (Congress) get light years ahead of him. At least he didn’t put us through the farce of a special counsel again.
@opethminded That "farce" of a special counsel is moving things along just fine.
I think @emptywheel and others understand why the Gaetz case failed (see my thread). Not everything is about DOJ being incompetent or too slow. Convicting for conspiracy and obstruction is nothing to sneeze at, and they've done that. They're working their way up with each conviction. I'm impatient too, but I see progress.
@GottaLaff @emptywheel Allow me to clarify that its not a farce like SC Bull Durham. Rather, here, it has the double benefit of providing Garland cover and infusing further delay as per standard operating procedure. He couldve indicted this ham sandwich long ago with public facing evidence & then plausibly delayed prosecution forever. Hell, 45 would help him. Im sure that decision is not political. We’ll disregard letting Mueller charges expire while ignoring Emoluments and Election Interference
Badwolf303@GottaLaff I’m one of those Garland attackers. Thanks for the explanation Re: #gaetz & Greenberg. I’m so frustrated with #garland, though Re: #January6insurrectionists
@marcibadwolf303 I am too, but he's gotten amazing convictions for conspiracy and obstruction. Those pave the way for more. And Jack Smith is kicking ass.
@GottaLaff I’m trying to have faith, but it’s hard. I don’t understand why not only have there been no arrests of the ringleaders but they are permitted to continue working in government as well. It seems to point to very high connections to the planners that even Biden & Dems can’t touch. Mike Flynn’s brother for example.
Scary.
Scary.
@marcibadwolf303 Because in order to arrest them, they must have reliable witnesses and enough evidence that is irrefutable.
@GottaLaff Makes sense, I guess regarding indictments & trial but why arrests? Just a thought experiment here, but consider, a suspected bank robber is arrested at the scene & may be held until indictment. Why not suspected insurrectionists? I know the level of the crime & status of the criminals is the difference, it just seems counterintuitive to national security not to have rounded them up asap the moment Biden took the oath.