On Thursday, Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) gave himself and two other Trump-supporting conservatives a nickname, implying that they would form a right-wing version to “The Squad,” a group of progressive House members.
Gaetz labeled this photo of himself, Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-Colo.), and Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) witnessing a House Judiciary Committee hearing “The Pro-America Squad” on Twitter:
The Pro-America Squad pic.twitter.com/7TRAGWtsNq
— Matt Gaetz (@mattgaetz) October 21, 2021
The three representatives voted to overturn the 2020 election results, cosigned former President Donald Trump’s election lies that the election was stolen from him and diminishing the severity of the January 6 Capitol riots.
People on the platform then decided to take matters into their own hands to create their own nicknames for the Republican trio.
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“The Goon Squad.”
“The Sedition Caucus? The Deplorables? The Alternative Facts Caucus? Take your pick,” another added.
A third said, “That’s the pro-authoritarian pro-traitor squad, not the pro-American squad.”
Check out some other responses and additions to the nickname game.
The Sedition Squad! https://t.co/y1RKFRwCsQ
— java (@java48727) October 22, 2021
The Goon Squad https://t.co/qS43UJ6iwL
— Socialist content for all (@joe_messina) October 22, 2021
More like The Clod Squad. https://t.co/illh65dmuP
— Returning America To Leadership (@ItsTeamGoodGuy1) October 22, 2021
@RepMTG , @RepMattGaetz and @laurenboebert walk into a bar... https://t.co/ZIgZxcanxf
— Cody-Proud Progressive Liberal (@pokerbitch74) October 22, 2021
Worst threesome ever https://t.co/ah7BiEpbRl
— Adam (@Incredi_Berry) October 22, 2021
mfs look like the evil power ranger team https://t.co/N5jPOXXMHF
— Nolan Collins (@NolanCollins02) October 21, 2021
They look like South Park characters https://t.co/sldkXNGcE8
— .... (@iHateMontay) October 22, 2021
According to Business Insider, the Justice Department (DOJ) hired two additional prosecutors to work on the team investigating Gaetz and the allegations that he provided money in exchange for sexual favours to a 17-year-old girl.
Gaetz’s probe was originally revealed in March 2021. Joel Greenberg, a Florida tax official, characterized as Gaetz’s “wingman,” pled guilty in May to sex trafficking and introducing a juvenile to individuals who had sex with her, among other charges.
He agreed to assist with prosecutors, and his sentencing was postponed until March in October to give him more time to work with them.
The Republican representative has not been charged with a criminal offence in the investigation and has denied any misdeed.