As controversy mounts, House Republicans largely radio silent, refuse to condemn Gaetz’s alleged sordid behavior or return his campaign cash
House Republicans are in disarray over their scandal-prone colleague Congressman Matt Gaetz. While some are rushing to his side, many are ditching and dodging questions about whether they condemn his reported sleazy behavior, even as many of them took campaign cash from Gaetz as the embattled congressman’s “legal peril…appeared to increase sharply” today.
Dashing: Vulnerable Republican Congresswoman Beth Van Duyne (TX-24) is reportedly dashing toward Gaetz. She’s set to share a stage with him this weekend as an FBI investigation looms over an alleged violation of federal sex-trafficking laws.
Ditched: Washington Republican David Valadao ditched Gaetz earlier this week, donating $4,000 he received from him to an organization that supports victims of domestic abuse.
Dodging: Vulnerable House Republican Reps. David Schweikert, Mike Garcia, Maria Elvira Salazar, Don Bacon, John Katko, Brian Fitzpatrick, Steve Chabot, and Brian Mast are dodging and ducking on questions over whether they’ll return or donate funds from the disgraced congressman as pressure grows amid calls for Gaetz to resign. Even the NRCC and Chairman Tom Emmer are mum on the $110,000 in campaign cash they’ve received from Gaetz.
DCCC Spokesperson Chris Taylor:
“House Republicans’ craven silence on their disgraced colleague is disappointing, but sadly not surprising. The NRCC and every single House Republican must come clean on when they knew of Gaetz’s alleged reprehensible behavior, and those who have taken Gaetz’s campaign cash must answer for why they refuse to return his money.”
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