WASHINGTON – A Twitter wag summed it up best: “Matt Gaetz is everything the Republicans were looking for in Hunter Biden.”
The New York Times’ report about a federal investigation into whether the Florida congressman had a sexual relationship with a minor and paid for her to travel has set off a scandal worthy of a pulp paperback, one swirling with claims of extortion, Ecstasy, an orgy, a hula hoop and sex trafficking, along with an Iranian hostage and, of course, a cameo by Roger Stone.
The moment crystallizes Republican hypocrisy. Trump and Gaetz viciously beat up on Biden, undeterred by their own vices.
As it happens, Hunter Biden begins his new memoir, “Beautiful Things,” with a scene of him watching Gaetz on TV reading a magazine excerpt about Biden’s addiction into the record of the House Judiciary Committee’s hearing during Trump’s first impeachment.
Biden writes, “‘I don’t want to make light of anybody’s substance abuse issues … ‘ Gaetz said, snickering for the cameras as he made light of my substance abuse issues.