Geraldo Rivera, lawyer and Fox News correspondent, has come under fire for ridiculing Matt Gaetz. The latter has been named President-elect Donald Trump's attorney general, and on Wednesday, Rivera told NewsNation's On Balance with Leland Vittert:
"When I heard that Matt Gaetz was picked to be attorney general, I threw up in my mouth. I think it is a horrible, creepy choice. I have no idea why he did it."
In the past, Gatez was the subject of a congressional ethics investigation following claims of s*xual misconduct, use of illicit substances, accepting bribery, and more. However, many on social media began scrutinizing Rivera for defending Matt Lauer when he was hit with similar claims in November 2017. On X, he noted that Lauer was a great guy and the perfect gentleman.
Read all about Geraldo Rivera's apology
Read Geraldo Rivera's tweet below:
"Sad about great guy, highly skilled & empathetic w guests & a real gentleman to my family & me. News is a flirty business & it seems like current epidemic of #SexHarassmentAllegations may be criminalizing courtship & conflating it w predation. What about #GarrisonKeillor?"
Rivera was referencing the former Minnesota Public Radio host, Garrison Keiller, who was fired from his job for similar claims that year. In the past, singer cum actress Bette Midler accused Rivera of touching her inappropriately in 1991, during an interview with Barbara Walters.
Geraldo Rivera doubled down on his stance in a follow-up tweet:
"A jerk's a jerk in dating. #SexHarassment should be confined to situations where superior imposes himself on subordinate who feels unable to complain because of power of perp or feared consequences to victim's employment. Shouldn't be used to get even w bad bosses or hated ex's."
Not long after, Fox News issued a statement noting that it did not align itself with Rivera's comments and that they were "addressing them with him." Notably, within hours on the same day he removed the tweets and took to X to issue an apology:
"Reaction to my tweets today on #sexharassment makes clear I didn't sufficiently explain that this is a horrendous problem long hidden-Harassers are deviants who deserve what is coming to them-Often victims are too frightened to come forward in a timely fashion-I humbly apologize."
Geraldo Rivera comes under fire for ridiculing Matt Gaetz
In a video circulating on X, Geraldo Rivera can be heard saying "Matt Gaetz is the epitome of everything rotten in Washington." He went on to call him “privileged, entitled [and] backstabbing.”
"There’s no way the Republicans in the Senate will confirm this man. He’ll make the Clarence Thomas [Supreme Court] confirmation hearing look like a walk in the park. They will dig up everything about him.”
He also took to X to convey his dismay in a series of tweets:
"Matt Gaetz is a douche. So bad for Attorney General. Gross. Gaetz resigned his House seat in anticipation of his AG job. Critics allege resignation was to escape House Ethics Cmte jurisdiction. They were about to issue scathing report on his conduct. Release the Report. Don’t let him sleaze in via a recess appointment. Release the Report."
He continued:
"In May 2021 this guy was under investigation for sex trafficking a 17-year-old. The DOJ decided not to charge him reportedly because the minor was almost 18. He also allegedly asked President Trump for a prospective pardon re: January 6th."
However, netizens were quick to react online, with many pointing out that the media personality is an alleged abuser himself. One user even re-tweeted with an old, inappropriate mirror selfie of Rivera.
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In 1991, Bette Midler recalled an instance from the '70s, when she met Geraldo Rivera. She claimed that he and his producer "pushed me into my bathroom, they broke two poppers and pushed them under my nose, and they proceeded to grope me."
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