On Saturday, we learned that Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) and longtime Trump protege Roger Stone discussed the matter of a presidential pardon which Stone later received. Gaetz, however, was left begging, meaning that the sexual trafficking investigation of him, along with his role in the January 6, 2021 Capitol insurrection, could potentially send him to prison for the next 20 years or longer.
And that, according to former FBI official Frank Figliuzzi, must have Gaetz facing the realization that he’s screwed. And Stone could be, too, if he’s tied to the Jan. 6 conspiracy.
Appearing on MSNBC, Figliuzzi noted:
“The larger ramifications here, you know, are hinted at with regard to Stone saying, I’m going to be counting on you and about a dozen others, right? A dozen others? Really? Who are going to lobby the president of the United States on a criminal’s behalf and try to get a pardon for themselves and for you, Roger? It’s a much larger conspiracy than I think even those of us who followed it every day could have imagined.”
Figliuzzi also made a comparison between Trump, his associates, and the mafia:
“You know, the Cosa Nostra, the Italian mafia, translates as, ‘this thing of ours.’ That’s all I keep hearing here. We’re all in this together. I’ve listened to court-authorized wiretaps of mobsters talking to each other and it sounds like this. There’s better food around, by the way, but it sounds just like this. And they’re part of a criminal enterprise, Nicolle. It’s a criminal organization. They know it. They know they’re screwed with regard to legality, and they know the only way out is for the boss to get them out of it.”
But “the boss” is no longer president and has no pardon power. That power, however, could be a major reason Trump wants to run again in 2024. He could pardon everyone who had anything to do with Jan. 6 and also avoid prosecution if he happens to be indicted. It’s a win-win situation for him.
Gaetz, however, does indeed appear to be screwed. And it couldn’t possibly happen to a more deserving person.
