'It's a criminal organization': Former FBI official compares Trump, Roger Stone and Matt Gaetz to the mafia
A former official for the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) recently compared members of TrumpWorld to the mafia.
During an appearance on MSNBC, Frank Figliuzzi, who worked as an assistant director in the FBI's counterintelligence division, shared his opinion of The Washington Post's recent report offering details about a "hot-mic conversation" that took place between Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) and longtime Trump ally, Roger Stone.
The report highlighted a 2019 recording where Gaetz "repeatedly assured Stone that 'the boss' would likely grant himclemency if he were convicted." Figliuzzi also recalled how Stone said he was hoping the Florida lawmaker and "dozens of others" would help him circumvent his legal woes.
"It's a much larger conspiracy than I think even those of us who followed it every day could have imagined," Figliuzzi said.
The former FBI official also insists that the conversations between Gaetz and Stone appear to echo a "we're all in this together" ideology and sheds light on how members of TrumpWorld function. According to Figliuzzi, it's similar to the mafia mentality.
"You know, La Cosa Nostra, the Italian Mafia, translates as, 'This Thing of Ours,'" he said. "That's all I keep hearing here: 'We're all in this together.'"
He also noted that the mob wiretaps he'd previously heard sound relatively similar to the conversations between Gaetz and Stone. "And they're part of a criminal enterprise," he added. "It's a criminal organization. They know it. They know they're screwed with regard to legality, and they know the only way out is for the boss to get them out of it."
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Business Insider also highlighted other sections of hot-mic conversation that alluded to mafia-style rhetoric.
At one point, Stone "was also heard telling Gaetz that he might have to "appeal to the big man" because most jurors surveyed for his trial despised him." The news outlet added that Gaetz "was then heard agreeing with Stone, saying Stone was 'fucked' where the trial was concerned. The congressman added, however, that he believed Stone wouldn't go to prison because the 'big guy' would not let that happen."
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