Disgraced former congressman mocked for joining Pentagon press pool

Disgraced former congressman Matt Gaetz (R-FL) showed up as a member of the media at Tuesday's Pentagon press briefing, according to journalist Aaron Rupar.

"Get a load of the 'journalist' asking questions at the Pentagon press briefing," Rupar posted on X along with a picture of Gaetz sporting his old "Representative Matt Gaetz" jacket at the briefing.

Gaetz resigned from Congress on November 13, 2024 after President Donald Trump had announced his intent to nominate him for the position of Attorney General.

That nomination was rendered null and void after a House Ethics Committee report that found "substantial evidence" he violated federal and state laws, including engaging in sexual activity with a 17-year-old girl, paying women for sex and drugs, and obstructing the investigation.

Gaetz has denied the allegations and since then, he has hosted his own eponymous weeknight political talk show on the Trump-friendly One America News Network (OANN).

In October, dozens of esteemed journalists from over 30 major news organizations voluntarily returned their Pentagon press credentials and vacated their workspaces in a mass protest against a new, restrictive press policy implemented by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth that required reporters to sign an agre ement acknowledging that they could face having their credentials revoked if they published any information — even unclassified —that had not been officially authorized for release by the Pentagon.

Since then, the Pentagon press pool has been filled with MAGA influencers like Gaetz. So-called "MAGA whisperer" Laura Loomer just received her own credentials.

National security journalist Seth Hettena also noted Gaetz's presence in the press pool, adding that Loomer was also there asking questions about Qatar.

Hettena also pointed out on X that "Jack Posobiec, a former Navy urinalysis officer who lost his security clearance for posting conspiracy theories on Twitter, is out here."

Journalist Kevin Baron took to X to say, "Y'all, MATT GAETZ was one of the fake reporters at today's fake Pentagon press briefing."