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MineralMan

(148,675 posts)

12. I'm not defending Gaetz. He's a creep.

Fri Dec 27, 2024, 12:02 PM

Dec 27

He probably could have been charged, but was not. I'm not in a position to decide such things. He has ruined his career, and it cost him his position as a member of Congress, along with his appointment as Attorney General, both of which are good things.

He was not prosecuted, though. Had he been, he probably would not have gotten convicted, given all of the circumstances.

I don't call 17-year-olds children. Minors, yes. Underaged minors when it comes to sexual consent, depending on location. I call them young women or young men.

When I was 18 and younger, I certainly engaged in sexual activity with young women of that age and a bit younger. When I graduated from high school, I didn't do that any more. Did I break the law as a teenager? Yes, I did. Pretty much everyone I knew then was breaking those laws. I was in California, where the age of consent at that time was 21. Was I charged with crimes? I was not, nor do I remember any high school kids getting charged with such crimes for doing the same things.

Why was Gaetz not charged with sex with a minor? I cannot answer that. He could have been, of course. A decision was made not to charge him. Not my decision, nor do I agree with that decision. But, it was made, and I think I know why it wasn't made. Insufficient evidence and the questionable liability to age of consent laws, probably. But no charges were made.

You can try to make me the bad guy here, but I'm not. I'm just explaining why referring to teenagers near or over the age of consent as "children" is inaccurate. You might disagree with me. That's fine. But I am not Gaetz.

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Polybius

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Highlight:

Child rape is illegal and should be punished even if it is a republican president or congressman. [View all] onecaliberal Dec 27 OP

I'm disgusted that this is even a conversation. Think. Again. Dec 27 #1

An underaged child being sexually abused ruins their lives for the rest of their lives. Clouds Passing Dec 27 #2

Which child rapists did Garland set free? onenote Dec 27 #5

Goetz, Dump........... Stop defending MG, I am not in the mood for that now! Clouds Passing Dec 27 #24

Epstein died more than a year before Garland took office onenote Dec 27 #28

Facts? We don't need no stinking facts! MineralMan Dec 27 #31

Yes he did. Child molesters defend each other and that is a FACT. Clouds Passing Dec 27 #32

Yes. I have first hand knowledge. onecaliberal Dec 27 #8

I'm sorry Clouds Passing Dec 27 #30

Is federal legislation needed to standardize the age of consent? Frasier Balzov Dec 27 #3

With this creepy MAGA movement happening it should be looked at. Quiet Em Dec 27 #15

The age of sexual consent varies from 16-18, depending on the state. MineralMan Dec 27 #4

I am missing your point. Are you saying that if a congressman has sex with Scrivener7 Dec 27 #7

My point is simple. If someone is at or older than the age of consent, MineralMan Dec 27 #9

Well, no. It doesn't depend. Gaetz slept with a 17 year old in Florida where the age of consent is 18. Scrivener7 Dec 27 #11

I'm not defending Gaetz. He's a creep. MineralMan Dec 27 #12

You made a comment about varying age of consent by state and said, "facts matter." Scrivener7 Dec 27 #13

The question is about what the definition of a "child" is. MineralMan Dec 27 #16

In legal terms a child is a minor that is below the age of majority chowder66 Dec 27 #23

When it comes to sexual consent, it varies. MineralMan Dec 27 #27

"Child" is not a loaded word when it comes to teen years. Teens are still considered children. Clouds Passing Dec 27 #34

So Kyle Rittenhouse was a 17 year old "child"? onenote Dec 27 #63

It would be nice to have every state have the same age of consent Polybius Dec 27 #44

I agree and I would like to see it be 18. chowder66 Dec 27 #55

One of my friends thinks it should be 21 Polybius Dec 27 #58

There are a lot of families that would like to launch their kids earlier than 21. chowder66 Dec 27 #60

What Gaetz did is punishable up to 15 years Quiet Em Dec 27 #37

Then the State of Florida should charge and try him. MineralMan Dec 27 #38

They absolutely should have. It's disturbing. Quiet Em Dec 27 #40

Well, probably the statute of limitations prevents that now. MineralMan Dec 27 #42

A minor can't consent and ignorance of age is not a defense. Quiet Em Dec 27 #46

Correct The statute of limitations barred prosecution onenote Dec 27 #64

Are you saying you believe their non-prosecution Scrivener7 Dec 27 #45

I didn't say that at all. MineralMan Dec 27 #52

Is a 17 year old legally defined as a child? Polybius Dec 27 #43

Yes. The age of consent is 18. Legally, Gaetz raped her. Scrivener7 Dec 27 #48

My state has always been 17 Polybius Dec 27 #50

It would make things much easier for pervy politicians. Scrivener7 Dec 27 #56

Or, as they sometimes refer to child sex abuse victims: "underage women." Scrivener7 Dec 27 #6

Look how few people care even here. onecaliberal Dec 27 #10

This thread certainly has gone weird. Scrivener7 Dec 27 #14

Yep the usual suspects arguing about moot points. Missing the point of the damage rapists cause. Clouds Passing Dec 27 #33

Yes. I would have thought agreeing with this OP without Scrivener7 Dec 27 #35

Instead it turned into a questioning of the meaning of the word is Clouds Passing Dec 27 #39

Mansplaining often does send conversations Scrivener7 Dec 27 #41

Thank you Clouds Passing Dec 27 #62

I see a pattern with my threads. onecaliberal Dec 27 #47

But, but is it illegal if child rape happens on a private island... rubbersole Dec 27 #17

Remember, the majority of MAGA voted for a child rapist NotHardly Dec 27 #18

For the life of me, I could never understand why the Harris campaign. . . Stargleamer Dec 27 #25

DOJ??? Bluethroughu Dec 27 #19

My wife was raped by her bil Greyhead Dec 27 #20

Speaking as someone who was raped at 13, I think the punishment should be double when it involves a kid. OMGWTF Dec 27 #21

I'm sorry. onecaliberal Dec 27 #54

Imaginary "liberal" child rape... orwell Dec 27 #22

ALL rape is illegal and should be punished Stargleamer Dec 27 #26

I wrote something similar MuseRider Dec 27 #36

Coming from a person who ran away from home to prevent rape from a father figure at 15 yrs of age Stargazer99 Dec 27 #29

Couldn't agree more and same feelings. onecaliberal Dec 27 #53

As much as I wish the facts and law didn't operate to allow Gaetz to escape punishment, they are what they are. onenote Dec 27 #49

IOKIYAAR keithbvadu2 Dec 27 #51

The brother of my friend is spending 25 years in a Texan prison no_hypocrisy Dec 27 #57

I agree but the legal system is inconsistent with respect to even a 15 year old's ability to make sound choices Habitation Dec 27 #59

This message was self-deleted by its author WarGamer Dec 27 #61

I was raped numerous times when I was 13 and 14. It isn't that easy. LeftInTX Dec 27 #65