Matt Gaetz seems to be experimenting with a new career path after declaring he would not be returning to Congress: making customized films for his followers on Cameo.
A day after withdrawing his name from consideration to be President-elect Donald Trump’s attorney general because to claims of sexual misconduct, Gaetz, a former representative from Florida, joined the platform on Friday.
He has been giving paid holiday greetings, congrats on marriages, and career-boosting speeches there. Gaetz is asking at least $550 each film as of Sunday night; the videos have so far averaged around a minute and a half in duration.
In reference to his recent resignation and subsequent declaration that he has no intention of retaking his House seat, his Cameo page states, “I served in Congress.” Trump put me forth as his nominee for US Attorney General, but it didn’t work out. I once dismissed the Speaker of the House.
The speaker he “fired” alludes to his conflict with Kevin McCarthy, whom he was instrumental in overthrowing last year when Gaetz compelled a House vote that resulted in McCarthy’s dismissal.
A request for comment was not immediately answered by a Gaetz spokeswoman.
Gaetz declared his intention to withdraw from the race for attorney general on Thursday, posting on X, Although there was a lot of enthusiasm, it is evident that my confirmation was unjustly taking attention away from the important work being done by the Trump/Vance Transition.
Numerous claims of sexual misconduct, including claims that he had sex with a 17-year-old at a party in 2017, cast doubt on his possible appointment. In addition, he was the subject of a Justice Department investigation into claims of sex trafficking and having intercourse with a minor, which he would have spearheaded had it been verified. Gaetz has strongly refuted claims of sexual misbehavior, and he was not charged at the conclusion of the probe.
A House Ethics Committee inquiry into the accusations against Gaetz, which had been going on sporadically since 2021, was also essentially terminated by his departure this week.
From Capitol Hill to Cameo
Launched in 2017, Cameo is a celebrity video message app that lets customers buy personalized shoutouts from celebrities that sign up for the platform. Cameo fans frequently request these movies, which are priced by the celebrities themselves, for milestones like graduations, anniversaries, and birthdays.
Cameo has been a staple for certain public individuals looking for an additional source of income, even though they have had some financial difficulties recently. It has developed into a well-known marketplace for fan-requested videos of the most dramatic and villainized figures in pop culture, which frequently become viral when shared on social networking sites like X and TikTok.
In one video, Republican Gaetz acknowledged their political differences while congratulating a recipient on becoming a partner at their legal business.
Look, I understand that our political views may not be exactly the same, but our professional paths may also not be. “I mean, you’re making a partner here, and this past week, my legal career took a slightly different turn,” Gaetz remarked. But what do you know? Put in a lot of effort, earn a lot of money, accomplish a lot of wonderful things as a lawyer and counselor, and you never know. You might also be nominated for attorney general.
In other videos, Gaetz expresses gratitude to his recipients for supporting MAGA, President Trump, and all of our efforts to preserve the nation. Additionally, he ridiculed one recipient for placing a wager on Kamala Harris to win the US presidency. For that wager on Trump, you need to change your habits.
Gaetz’s actions are similar to those of other troubled politicians, such former Representative George Santos, who used the platform after being removed from the House late last year due to accusations of identity theft and wire fraud. Santos also made his drag queen identity accessible on the app earlier this year. Since then, he has entered guilty pleas to two felony fraud offenses.
Rudy Giuliani, the former mayor of New York City who was indicted on charges pertaining to purported attempts to overturn the 2020 Georgia presidential election results, and Rod Blagojevich, the former governor of Illinois who was removed from office and imprisoned on charges of public corruption, are also featured on Cameo.
In the Georgia election interference case, Giuliani entered a not guilty plea to the accusations. Additionally, he was held accountable for defaming two election workers in Georgia.
The app also features Michael Cohen, Trump’s former lawyer who entered a guilty plea to federal offenses and served time in prison. Cameo also features Fox News commentator Tomi Lahren, former Alaska governor Sarah Palin, and former Trump campaign manager Corey Lewandowski.
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