Judge Raises Questions About Why Intelligence Operative Not Charged In Gaetz Extortion Scheme

The federal judge presiding over the case of the extortion scheme targeting Rep. Matt Gaetz’s father raised questions as to why an intelligence operative involved in the crime hasn’t been charged, according to court transcripts.

In the sentencing hearing for long-time con man Stephen Alford, who was charged in the Gaetz extortion case and sentenced to five years in prison, federal Judge Margaret Casey Rodgers questioned why former military intelligence officer and State Department contractor Bob Kent — who was involved in virtually every step of the crime — was not charged as well, saying she disagrees that there isn’t the evidence for it...

Bob Kent is a former Air Force intelligence officer who has admitted to soliciting Don Gaetz for $25 million...

The transcript includes discussion of Kent’s “history” with the American government — “in relationship to his intelligence network, the fact that Bob Kent had been hired previously as an intelligence analyst” — and indicates that he “had been under contract with the State Department.”

The sentencing transcript shows that Kent was the first point of contact with Don Gaetz in the effort to extort him for $25 million in return for a presidential pardon for his Congressman son. The pardon would be for an alleged sex crime that, according to a recent report by NBC News, lacks evidence implicating Gaetz and which Gaetz has denied. The transcript describes how Kent instructed Gaetz to hand over $25 million to attorney David McGee and also arranged a meeting between Gaetz and Alford...

Congressman Gaetz told Breitbart News that he shares the questions and concerns of Judge Rodgers, adding that he sees the federal government refusing to hold accountable the person involved in the scheme.

“There was more than one person involved in this criminal shakedown of my family. The federal government has only chosen to hold one accountable, and I am concerned that they’re protecting the people who have the connections to the U.S. government,” Gaetz told Breitbart.