Rep. Matt GaetzMatthew (Matt) GaetzGaetz in Twitter battle with Florida House Republican Apple under pressure to unlock Pensacola shooter's phones Conservatives slam Warren's call to put transgender women in women's prisons MORE (R-Fla.) exchanged insults with Florida state Rep. Chris Latvala (R) in a nasty Twitter feud earlier this week.
Itbegan Monday shortly after Latvala tweeted a photo of himself meeting the Rev.Al Sharpton, a moment he described as an honor.
It was an honor to meet @TheRevAl today. #FlaPol pic.twitter.com/ecL4Y6asKO
The photo was met with criticism from Gaetz hourslaterin a tweet that kicked off the feud between the two Republicans.
Sharpton has called cops pigs, whites interlopers, Greeks homos and Jews diamond merchants. So that is pretty disgusting, Gaetz tweeted.
Sharpton has called
Cops pigsWhites interlopersGreeks homos andJews diamond merchants
So that is pretty disgusting. https://t.co/SODj3YPBke
Less than an hour later, Latvala responded with a knock of his own that immediately escalated the feud.
And you created a game where members of the FL House got points for sleeping with aides, interns, lobbyists, and married legislators. Hope DC is treating you well, Comgressman, he wrote.
And you created a game where members of the FL House got "points" for sleeping with aides, interns, lobbyists, and married legislators. Hope DC is treating you well, Comgressman. https://t.co/PGFuQHJbEJ
Latvalas accusation, which Gaetz denied in a statement to the Tampa Bay Times on Tuesday, references a game that was alleged to have been played in the Florida House of Representatives years back.
Marc Caputo, who currently reports for Politico, tweeted about how the alleged game was played in 2013, when he was working for the Miami Herald.
Hey ladies! Source: young male FL Reps have point-system contest for having sex: 1=lobbyist 2=staff 3=other legislator 6=married legislator
Gaetz, who served in the Florida House of Representatives before being elected to Congress in 2016, told the Times that he had no idea what Chris was talking about on Tuesday.
I know Jack Latvala has to resign in disgrace over demanding sexual favors from lobbyists in exchange for appropriations, so it was likely Chris projecting, he continued. I dont start conversations with people on Twitter about their sex lives. Especially Latvalas.
According to the South Florida Sun-Sentinel, there is a history of bad blood between Gaetzs and Latvalas families in Florida.
Gaetz responded to Latvalas accusation on Twitter later Tuesday night, tweeting at the time, Just because I own you on twitter, dont confuse me for your daddy when it comes to abusing power for sex.
Also, I missed the defense of Sharpton in your reply, he added.
Just because I own you on twitter, dont confuse me for your daddy when it comes to abusing power for sex.
Also, I missed the defense of Sharpton in your reply.
According to the Times, Latvalas father, former state Rep. Jack Latvala (R-Fla.), resigned from his seat in 2017 after allegations of sexual harassment that were brought against him.
Latvala shot back at Gaetz on the same night on Twitter, writing, Have you been drinking tonight?
I hope you dont get behind the wheel. I know you have had a rough few days up there, he added, appearing to refer to Gaetzs DUI arrest in 2008.
Have you been drinking tonight? I hope you dont get behind the wheel. I know you have had a rough few days up there.
I spent my day talking to my friend & supporter, the President. You spent yours with Al Sharpton, Gaetz responded soon after.
I spent my day talking to my friend & supporter, the President.
You spent yours with Al Sharpton.
Yep. I'm not afraid to meet with folks with differing opinions than mine. Hence why I posted the picture on Twitter, Latvala added.
yep. I'm not afraid to meet with folks with differing opinions than mine. Hence why I posted the picture on Twitter....
Gaetz and Latvala did not immediately respond to requests for comment from The Hill.
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