Conservatives need to defend Gaetz from discredited allegations to prevent this pattern from repeating.
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Before marrying in 2021, former Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., was known to be a braggadocious libertine. No conservative wants to defend such behavior, and so many on the Right are remaining silent as Gaetz is accused of also engaging in criminal conduct, paying prostitutes, and having sex with a minor. The claims against Gaetz are but another information operation, however, mirroring the ones that previously targeted Donald Trump and Brett Kavanaugh. And this pattern will continue unabated unless Americans unflinchingly condemn the tactic — no matter the target.
WeshouldhavelearnedthislessonfromDonaldTrump’sfirstpresidentialrunandtimeinoffice.FromCrossfireHurricane,tothepee-tapedossier,toSpecialCounselRobertMueller’sinvestigation,unsupportedandunbelievableaccusationsleakedtothepublichamperedTrump’sabilitytoadvancehisagenda.Timeandagainthechargesprovedunfounded,andyetinadvanceofthe2024election,thelawfarecontinued.Thecountry,however,hadwisedupbythenandrecognizedthevariouscri