In recent weeks, Gaetz, a conservative and staunch Donald Trump supporter, has been embroiled in growing controversy as media reports set out an investigation into the Justice Department over claims against him of a possible sexual relationship with a minor and that he pays to travel her state lines, which will violate laws on sex trafficking. One trip that has come under scrutiny is a weekend getaway in September 2018 to the Bahamas.
Gaetz, who is not being charged, denied the allegations. The legislature defended itself by presenting itself as a victim of an extortion scheme, although the Justice Department’s investigation is unlikely to be related.
However, the ad offers some insight into Gaetz’s strategy to move forward by adopting the label “fake news” popularized by Trump. The ad contains footage obtained by Project Veritas, a conservative activist organization known for using deceptive practices and disseminating misinformation in attempts to expose what it considers to be “corruption, dishonesty, self-trafficking, waste, fraud and other misconduct “of liberal organizations or individuals.
In the footage, a man identified as a CNN employee is heard commenting on the news organization’s coverage of Gaetz. A CNN spokesman did not immediately respond to a request for comment.