Matt Gaetz must really think he’s going to prison

Dear Palmer Report readers, we all understand the difficult era we're heading into. Major media outlets are caving to Trump already. Even the internet itself and publishing platforms may be at risk. But Palmer Report is nonetheless going to lead the fight. We're funding our 2025 operating expenses now, so we can keep publishing no matter what happens. I'm asking you to contribute if you can, because the stakes are just so high. You can donate here.

Days ago, Matt Gaetz gave a speech at a far right conference and made stunningly offensive remarks about the physical attributes of pro-choice women. At the time, we noted that Gaetz was behaving consistently with someone who expects to go to prison and therefore doesn’t care what he says or how it impacts his future, because he knows he has no future anyway.

Now Gaetz has been given an opportunity to walk back his offensive remarks, or perhaps play the old game of claiming that he never said any of it to begin with. Instead Gaetz is doubling down.

Gaetz was asked, “Is it safe to say that, based off these comments, that you’re suggesting the women at these abortion rallies are ugly and overweight?” His answer: “Yes.” Gaetz was asked “What do you say to people who think those comments are offensive?” His answer: “Be offended.”

Even on among far right politicians, this is not how you behave if you’re looking to have any sort of future career trajectory. Matt Gaetz is now acting like a guy who’s in his forties and expects to be in prison until his sixties, and is getting in his deranged last licks while he can.

Keep in mind that multiple major news outlets have reported that the DOJ has flipped three cooperating witnesses against him in its probe into his alleged underage sex trafficking. While the case has dragged on, as so many federal criminal probes do, there is still no indication that Gaetz has been let off the hook. For his part, he appears to believe his time as a free man is running short.