Democratic gubernatorial candidate Nikki Fried asserted Friday that criticisms of her long-standing association with Republican Congressman Matt Gaetz are “chauvinistic” critiques mired in sexist preconceptions.
“My opponent & media calling me ‘friends’ with Matt Gaetz are purposely perpetuating a lie that women can’t work with men in politics professionally without owning all their baggage. It’s chauvinistic & part of the culture that’s prevented Florida from electing a woman governor,” Fried contended, via her personal Twitter account.
Fried has spent much of the last year and a half battling the narrative that she and Gaetz, a hard-right Congressman from the Panhandle, are friends. Her Tweet Friday suggests she still believes she has work to do in that regard.
National scrutiny of the Gaetz-Fried dynamic began in earnest over a year ago.
Business Insider reported in Spring 2021 about how Fried and Gaetz were “pals,” with insiders offering a blind-item dish about a friendship between the two.
The revelations about the political “pals” span time, reflective of the political rise of both Gaetz and Fried over years.
From reports that the two “hung out” at the Trump Hotel in Washington to tales of them being friends when Fried was lobbying Tallahassee politicians on medical cannabis, an issue Gaetz took lead on, the narrative suggests an abiding political friendship of some significance.
Their bond is so tight, Business Insider noted at the time, that Fried was the first to text Gaetz to ask if he was OK in the wake of the Capitol attacks from rogue Donald Trump supporters in January.
Fried attempted to qualify that as a general concern for the congressional delegation, but other than Gaetz, few told reporters they’d heard from Fried.
The Agriculture Commissioner addressed a reported federal investigation that ensnared associates of Gaetz last year, and expressed her hope that Gaetz was clean “for the marijuana industry.”
“I hope it’s not true,” Fried told reporters Tuesday in Tallahassee. “And I hope it’s not true for the marijuana industry.”
“We have been spending so much time, effort, and energy to expand access for patients across the entire country. And it is a mission of mine to make sure that there is affordable access. And the last thing that any of us would want is a bad taint on the marijuana industry because of alleged actions from (people involved in the industry).”
Federal investigators should either “make some decisions one way or another” or “move on,” Fried noted.
“Again, I hope that DOJ and the FBI do their job, make some decisions one way or another,” Fried affirmed. “We have a lot of work still ahead of us.”
Reportedly, federal investigators have for some time been probing a 2018 trip Gaetz took with Halsey Beshears and Dr. Jason Pirozzolo to the Bahamas. Prosecutors with the Justice Department’s Public Integrity Section reportedly are examining whether Gaetz took gifts, including travel and paid escorts, in exchange for political favors, according to CNN.
As The Associated Press reports, Gaetz has consistently denied any wrongdoing. He has said such reports are an attempt to “propagandize” his life.
Gaetz has not been charged with any crime thus far.
My opponent & media calling me “friends” with Matt Gaetz are purposely perpetuating a lie that women can’t work with men in politics professionally without owning all their baggage. It’s chauvinistic & part of the culture that’s prevented Florida from electing a woman governor.
— Nikki Fried (@NikkiFried) July 29, 2022
A.G. Gancarski has written for FloridaPolitics.com since 2014. He is based in Northeast Florida. He can be reached at [email protected] or on Twitter: @AGGancarski
Is this a GOP site? 2 articles from this guy that I just read here have GOP candidate banner ads in them. My phone blocks all ads, so they’re definitely from you. Can’t read this shyt anymore.
Vote RED for FAT CAMMACK!!! Vote RED for DESATAN!!! Vote RED for PIZZA GAETZ!!! Vote RED for ORANGE HITLER!!!
Vote “BLUE” if you want a state income tax. Vote “BLUE” if you think Rebekah Jones is a Scientist. Vote “BLUE”. If you think gender identity and sexual preferences should be taught to Kindergartners.
Vote RED for MARJORIE Q-ANON KAREN Vote RED for BIMBO BOEBERT Vote RED for FRAUD SCOTT!!!!!
This ridiculous. Plenty of male candidates are criticized for there “associations” in the world of politics. She’s a sexist pig.
Sorry, Nikki, but if the rumors are true, Well, you are known by the company you keep. I have hopes Florida can elect a female governor, but it would have to be someone like Alex Sink. Too bad Gillum came out on top in that debacle.
Curious how anyone can say she’s friends with Matt Gaetz she she fully supports Rebekah Jones, who is running against him
Rebekah Jones is a quack. Scientist my ass. Google her, she is a complete and unstable lunatic. I’m sure Corsin would support her.
^ This idiot needs heavy medication…court ordered. If not..jail.
So Corsin the bot is a judge now.🤣. Go ahead and try to arrest me.
Like any sane intelligent woman would be friends with that ignorant pervert Gaetz.
That pot thing is just for company keep. No respect of laws when laws turned fascist and condemned for ethics reasons . Now let’s all get paranoid and depressed.smokey that weed meaning it’s s weed species. We already forgave mayor Barry ( sweating up a storm)
We reject your Americans propaganda public records these anus seem to advertise a lot I guess they feel some kind of coolness they are not getting from us
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