While serving in the Florida Legislature, Republican Representative Matt Gaetz reportedly opposed a bill meant to stop people from sharing sexually explicit images received from ex-lovers.
Commonly referred to as "revenge porn," Gaetz argued recipients of said images own them and to do whatever they want with them.
This includes posting them online or sending them to friends, family or employers of the person in the images as an act of revenge.
The Orlando Sentinel reported former Florida Republican state Representative Tom Goodson spent three years sponsoring the nonconsensual porn bill—which would outlaw non-consensual pornography used to humiliate and intimidate those who broke off relationships.
The bill was also referred to as the "revenge porn" bill.
However, some activists object to the use of the word revenge as it suggests the person in the images did something deserving of retaliation.
Goodson said Gaetz was the chief opponent to the legislation and said:
"Matt was absolutely against it. He thought the picture was his to do with what he wanted. He thought that any picture was his to use as he wanted to, as an expression of his rights."
Gaetz—who was elected to Congress in 2016 and was a staunch supporter of former President Donald Trump—is currently under investigation by the Justice Department over sex trafficking allegations, according to CNN.
Federal investigators are examining whether the 38-year-old Republican engaged in a sexual relationship with a teenager when she was 17-years-old and he was in his mid 30s, paying her for sex and traveling across state lines—an allegation Gaetz denied.
The news came after last week's reports of Gaetz bragging to his political colleagues about his many sexual exploits with women.
Multiple sources told the news outlet Gaetz showed fellow lawmakers photos and videos of the nude women he claimed to have had sex with, while on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives.
One of the sources said they saw a video of a naked woman and a hula hoop and said for Gaetz "It was a point of pride."
Ultimately, the nonconsensual porn legislation passed in 2015, clearing the state House on a 114-2 vote.
The only two against the legislation were Gaetz and former Republican Representative John Tobia—who is currently a Brevard County commissioner with whom Gaetz shared a three-bedroom condo in Tallahassee during their time in the Florida Legislature.
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