What's that German word, translating to "Face in need of a Fist"? I always think of Gaetz as the illustration like his mug was invented just to accompany that term.

It just Gaetz worse for the GOP every day...

(OK, I stole that off twitter)

Another gem I'm stealing from twitter:

"Biden has a minor Major problem, while Gaetz has a major minor problem."

Priceless!

backpfeifengesicht battle of the titans.

Who wins?

As for the conviction: you can only introduce evidence in your defense that is relevant to your case. Someone under the age of 18 is legally incapable of consenting to sex. Hence, your (mistaken) state of mind does not give you a defense of consent.

I can see a judge considering such evidence when it comes to sentencing. And, I can see a jury looking at the victim and crediting the defendant with a defense that she looks 18+. But, technically speaking, it’s not a defense to guilt, as far as I know.

ETA: some states’s laws are different. But, FL is like what I described above. Statutory rape in FL is strict liability and ignorance of the victim’s age appears to not be a defense.

Maybe he shares a few lines with Don Jr. when he is in town?



How much coke did Don Jr. snort?

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Trieatalot

It's a C minus world.

There was a local case somewhat recently (not mine) where the judge granted a sentencing departure motion because he determined that the underage girls involved were the aggressors in that they were actively soliciting the 67 year old defendant.

Ignorance of the law is one thing. What Thisisit is describing is something else entirely.

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Slowguy

(insert pithy phrase here...)

The classic case in the field (involving a 76 year old in FL) is Lason v. State, 12 So.2d 305 (1943). Its language is incredibly weird and harsh.

Wow, that is damn good, it's almost a palindrome !

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I'm beginning to think that we are much more fucked than I thought.

Can’t decide - just need to punch them both.

We all lose.

I'm not suggesting "she looks 18" is the defense, I'm suggesting "she was in a place and engaging in behavior that only 21+ year olds can legally engage in" is the defense.

I suppose we could even take it further. What if she showed the other person proof that she was 21+ with her ID?

You know what, go ahead and just believe you can simply assume that a female drinking an alcoholic beverage in a public establishment is more than enough for you to know she is 21. Try that with the judge too when it turns out she was 17. Report back with your results.

He is describing ignorance that sex with a minor is a statutory offense and consent of the minor or other factors really do not come into play for a defense. So, ignorant of the law...

Come on man, you know what he is saying and why he's saying it. There has to be some responsibility on the part of the minor at this point. A person can't read someone's mind and know their age. He's not saying it's right, he's not saying anything about Gaetz one way or the other, he's making a point that there should be some responsibility if a person has done all of their due diligence.

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TEAM HD
Each day is what you make of it so make it the best day possible.

Ignorance of the law usually means you're unaware of what the law is (i.e. in this case, that it's illegal to have sex with someone under 18), not that you're mistaken about some facts related to breaking the law.

Why in the world would I do that?

We're just having a discussion, there's no need to get in a huff.

There really isn't. Have sex with someone who is a minor, get charged, go to jail. All of the burden is on the adult. Hazards of chasing after people on the cusp of adulthood.

Some states have distinctions based on how much older someone is. So if you are less than 5 years older for instance it is a lower offense than if you are Matt Gaetz's age. Of course the vast majority of cases are never prosecuted because the underage person actually wanted it to happen and no one knows or doesn't care. It is when you piss off the parents, or in this case the FBI when they are investigating one of your close allies, that you get sent to the pokey.

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I'm beginning to think that we are much more fucked than I thought.

I suspect the pun wasn't intended but I laughed

You know what they say, "Buyer Beware."

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TEAM HD
Each day is what you make of it so make it the best day possible.

Of course it was intended.

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I'm beginning to think that we are much more fucked than I thought.

I guess it just screws with my sense of justice. You want to go after people who are knowingly doing something wrong or else you're really not protecting society. Going after someone who is duped into a crime they had no idea they were committing makes zero sense to me.

So claims are he travelled with her (assume airplane) and paid her way. To get on an airplane requires birthdate in your ticket request. Assume under 18 she didn't have her own credit card. Guilty as charged, he knew her age.