'Delinquent' Matt Gaetz Blocked from Practicing Law
‘Delinquent’ Matt Gaetz Blocked from Practicing Law Bar Tab
Matt Gaetz is facing an investigation for underage sex trafficking and has had fundraising slow down to a drip. Now he’s been deemed ineligible to practice law in Florida.
Jose Pagliery
https://www.thedailybeast.com/delinquent-matt-gaetz-currently-blocked-from-practicing-law
Political Investigations Reporter
Updated Oct. 22, 2021 2:33PM ET / Published Oct. 22, 2021 4:04AM ET
JOCE/Bauer-Griffin/Getty
This is one bar tab Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) may regret not paying.-snip-
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“Congressman Gaetz is no longer actively engaged in the practice of law. He is focused on representing his constituents in Congress, not the courtroom,” said his office’s communications director, Joel Valdez.
But after our story published, Gaetz on Friday morning rushed to file a signed petition to get reinstated and pay the $265 fee—plus another $200 in late fees, according to the professional association.
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In 2019, he also ran afoul of the professional organization’s “standards of civility” for serving the role of Trump attack dog. Gaetz threatened Trump Organization attorney-turned-whistleblower Michael Cohen on the eve of his tell-all congressional testimony, tweeting at him: “Do your wife & father-in-law know about your girlfriends?” When Gaetz later apologized, the group’s grievance committee let him off the hook—but not before issuing a “letter of advice” that said his behavior was “unprofessional, reckless, insensitive, and demonstrated poor judgment.”
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“It might be a calculated move. I think he’s preemptively trying to remove a level of scrutiny from the Bar,” said Cris Dosev, a real estate developer and Marine Corps veteran of Operation Desert Storm. He ran unsuccessfully against Gaetz in a Republican primary last year.
Gaetz had failed to pay his $265 annual dues before the Oct. 1 deadline. He could have sent in a paper check or paid online via credit card with a Visa, MasterCard, or American Express.
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Daniel Uhlfelder, a Santa Rosa Beach attorney who lives in Gaetz’s district speculated, “I don’t think they take Venmo, so maybe that was the problem,” saying Gaetz is neither a good lawyer or serious Congressman.
—Updated at 2:15 p.m. to reflect that Gaetz had paid his fees to remain a lawyer.
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I hope this is permanent!
