‘Meanest person in politics’: Republican aides swipe at Matt Gaetz following sex trafficking allegations

Washington, DC is abuzz following the revelation that the Justice Department is investigating whether Matt Gaetz had a sexual relationship with a 17-year-old girl that also may have violated federal laws against sex trafficking.

Among those gloating over the accusation against the Florida Republican congressman are former Trump White House staffers and GOP aides, some of whom reportedly loathe him.

Insider interviewed a dozen current and former party and White House sources regarding group text chains exchanging gossip about the news of Mr Gaetz’s legal woes, originally reported in The New York Times.

While not all are happy to see the congressman is facing an investigation, they reportedly “feel a little vindicated” because, according to one former White House staffer: “He’s the meanest person in politics.”

A former congressional aide said that the scandal could see GOP leadership get rid of Mr Gaetz without having to do anything to get their hands dirty such as removing him from committee assignments or other measures.

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“Republican leadership will likely watch him completely implode in a matter of days without having to do a thing,” the aide told Insider.

Mr Gaetz enjoyed a close relationship with Donald Trump during his time in the Oval Office and was a frequent guest on cable news shows, generating enough buzz among the MAGA wing of the party to tout him as a potential future candidate for either governor of Florida or the presidency.

Nevertheless, staffers reportedly tried to regulate the influence of Mr Trump’s outspoken ally on the former president – difficult when Mr Gaetz was a regular on Air Force One flying down to Florida.

On Capitol Hill, a Republican House staffer expressed an opinion on what might motivate the congressman: “He’s not in the legislative business. He’s just out there to blow s*** up and get on TV.”

A national Republican campaign consultant familiar with Florida politics, expressed similar sentiments: “The congressman is one of those that came to Washington to make an impression for fame and fortune rather than accomplishing anything in Washington for his constituents.”

They added: “Matt is going to have a popularity problem now, and may just fade into obscurity. No one will want to associate with him until there’s a resolution.”

Insider reports aides to Republican leadership as telling a former staffer that their bosses “didn’t believe he would be that stupid” adding that Mr Gaetz has a reputation as a “showboat” and has very few allies in the House.

“He’s a blight on the conference.”

Mr Gaetz has denied all of the allegations against him in an official statement, and other GOP figures in Washington and in his Florida constituency have urged caution until more facts come to light.