Former Rep. Matt Gaetz has a future in Florida politics, despite the release of an explicit Ethics Committee report accusing him of drug use and paying for sex, Evan Power, the chair of the Florida Republican Party, told Newsmax on Tuesday.
But, Power told Newsmax's "Wake Up America" that he does not think Gaetz will seek an appointment to replace Sen. Marco Rubio, the Florida Republican who has been nominated as secretary of state.
"I think Americans love a second act," Power said. "I think he can overcome. He should double down and take his fight to the American people and explain, you know, why they released it, why they're taking him on."
If he does that and "can tell the story of what happened and how he's changed, he's married the love of his life, apparently, and has moved on, he can have a second act," he added. "He is one of the most popular politicians in Florida to this day … he speaks out and fights hard."
Meanwhile, Power said he's heard several names in the mix for Rubio's seat, including Attorney General Ashley Moody, Lt. Gov. Jeanette Nunez, former Speaker Jose Oliva, and Rep. Cory Mills.
"I think Gov. [Ron] DeSantis is going to choose a Florida politician, and if you look at who we're choosing in Florida politics, they're all fighters," he said. "They're all ready to move the ball forward for the conservative mission so I think we have a lot of good choices because we have a very deep bench in Florida."
But as for Gaetz, "I don't think he's interested in it as an appointment," said Power, adding that he has not heard his name being considered.
"The governor has made his view clear that he's looking at about 5 or 6 names, and I think we should know on short order who he's going to pick," he said.
However, he said he does think Gaetz has a "strong future."
"Floridians are forgiving a lot, and we will be there and ready to fight for whatever is next," said Power.
Still, "everyone" is questioning the timing behind the Ethics Committee's release of the Gaetz report, he said.
"I think he deserves the right to face his accusers, and obviously, there's a political slant," said Power. "The Department of Justice looked into this. They didn't prosecute for the reasons that they couldn't evaluate the witnesses. He couldn't challenge them. I don't think the case would have stuck."
The release, he added, is a "political hit job ... they're trying to take out Matt Gaetz for some reason, probably because he was a problem to the former speaker."
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Sandy Fitzgerald ✉
Sandy Fitzgerald has more than three decades in journalism and serves as a general assignment writer for Newsmax covering news, media, and politics.
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