Longtime Republican operative Roger Stone recently came to the defense of Rep. Matt Gaetz, who is currently under federal investigation for possible sex trafficking of a 17-year-old girl, The Sun-Sentinel reported.
“The ‘leaked’ smear on Congressman Matt Gaetz is an extortion play and an effort to destroy the up and coming conservative leader who has the balls to call the left out,” he wrote on social media network Parler.
Stone also slammed The New York Times for its piece on the probe.
Stone Threatened A ‘New York Times’ Reporter
After defending Gaetz, Stone threatened New York Times reporter Mike Schmidt, who wrote the piece on Gaetz along with Katie Benner and Nicholas Fandos.
“I am going to public humiliate New York Times reporter Mike Schmidt tomorrow,” Stone wrote on Parler.
“He is the single most dishonest fabricator of the Russian hoax narrative in American press corps. And now he’s doing it again with the smear of @MattGaetz.”
Per Sun-Sentinel, Schmidt won a Pulitzer prize in 2018 for his work on Russia’s ties to Donald Trump’s 2016 presidential campaign.
The Probe Was Opened Under Former Attorney General William Barr
According to The New York Times, the probe into Gaetz was opened under former Attorney General William P. Barr during the final months of Trump’s time in the White House.
The publication claimed that the probe is not specifically focused on Gaetz, Instead, he is part of a broader inquiry into a local official in Florida named Joel Greenberg, who was indicted last summer on charges that included sex trafficking a minor.
The investigation will determine whether Gaetz provided a girl — believed to be 17 — with money or something of value in exchange for sexual relations.
Gaetz Has Denied The Allegations
As reported by Axios, Gaetz denied the allegations and — like Stone — pointed to a purported extortion effort.
“The allegations of sexual misconduct against me are false,” he told the publication.
“They are rooted in an extortion effort against my family for $25 million … in exchange for making this case go away.”
According to Gaetz, he and his family have been targeted for extortion by a former Justice Department official, who is allegedly seeking $25 millon.
The Alleged Extortion Scheme Involves An Orgy and Hostage
According to The New York Post, the alleged extortion scheme against Gaetz involves an orgy and hostage.
In particular, two men are said to be attempting to blackmail Gaetz about a purported orgy with sex workers. The publication said the men are trying to get $25 million out of Gaetz’s dad, which would be funneled into a hostage rescue effort for former FBI agent and CIA contractor Robert Levinson, who disappeared in Iran in 2007.
According to The New York Post, the two men involved in the extortion scheme are not connected to the sex crimes investigation.
