A GOP strategist was charged with sex trafficking minors.Then he tried to 'threaten' law enforcement

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: Washington Post

Anton “Tony” Lazzaro had already been accused of paying underage girls for sex when the up-and-coming Republican political strategist, according to a federal judge, tried to leverage some information he’d dug up. While jailed without bond, Lazzaro told one of the Minneapolis police officers investigating his case that he knew where the officer lived, U.S. District Judge Patrick Schiltz wrote in an order filed Tuesday. Lazzaro also allegedly told the officer he’d tried to find similar information before his arrest about an FBI agent, but came up empty because the agent was “a ghost” with no online presence.

The federal judge called Lazzaro’s comments to Officer Brandon Brugger an “attempt to threaten and intimidate” and “very troubling.” The judge cited it as one of the reasons he was denying Lazzaro’s request to reconsider giving him a bond. Schiltz ordered that Lazzaro remain locked up pending trial. “There is no legitimate reason — none — for Lazzaro to be collecting home addresses and other personal information about the law enforcement officers involved in his case,” Schiltz wrote in his decision.

Lazzaro, 31, was arrested Aug. 12 on sex trafficking charges. Prosecutors are accusing him of orchestrating a sex trafficking scheme in which he paid Gisela Castro Medina, a 19-year-old university student, to scout and recruit at least six underage girls during an eight-month period in 2020, promising them that Lazzaro would be their “sugar daddy.” Once Lazzaro allegedly lured them to his luxury condo in downtown Minneapolis, prosecutors claim he — in exchange for sex acts — provided them with cash, alcohol, vape pens and other items. Lazzaro and Medina have denied the accusations. None of Lazzaro’s lawyers immediately responded to a request for comment from The Washington Post.

Before the sex trafficking allegations, Lazzaro was a rising star in Minnesota GOP circles. The self-described entrepreneur had donated to state Republicans and posed in photos with high-powered conservatives like TV host Tucker Carlson, Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) and former president Donald Trump. He’d made multiple appearances on Fox News programs, and posted photos of himself sitting on top of a private jet, gassing up a Ferrari and posing shirtless with hundred-dollar bills.

Read more: https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2021/11/04/republican-political-operative-sex-trafficking/

[lapfog_1]

1. projection

I've always thought that the GOP obsession with pedophiles and perpetrating the Q-anon theory about child sex trafficking and Democrats was pure projection.

This is yet another example of GOP "rising stars" like Matt Gaetz, not to mention the almost weekly accusations against religious leaders (especially in the Catholic and Evangelical sects).

[bucolic_frolic]

2. knowledge of dirt on people creates a lot of opportunity for policital leverage?

perhaps it's not mere projection, but strategy?

[not fooled]

4. He didn't come up with the idea

on his own.

I'd bet he's seen his puke "colleagues" successfully implement such a strategy.

[Kid Berwyn]

17. I'll say.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/lisettevoytko/2020/07/21/heres-every-time-donald-trump-and-ghislaine-maxwell-have-been-photographed-together/?sh=73efd537183d

[IronLionZion]

5. They can't see what's in their own house

because they're always looking out the window at others

[yardwork]

19. Absolutely it's projection.

[Champp]

3. Republican moral degeneracy is an absolute disgrace

They are the Party of Pedophilia Projection.

Own your own evil shit, Repubes, and then REPENT, or at least sit down and shut up about your stupid, fake "family values." My ass.

[IronLionZion]

6. He got his money somehow

GOP must have been paying him so well for a reason. Hope he squeals on who else was involved in this

[keithbvadu2]

9. Squeals?

Maybe he remembers the term 'Epsteined'.

[IronLionZion]

11. If he ends up suicided

it would mean there are powerful people involved in the GOP

[plimsoll]

7. I'm sure this can be worked out.

After all, this guy is a GOPper. I'm sure he was just trying to hustle a lawn mowing gig.

Where is that sarcasm gif.

[TheRickles]

8. "posing shirtless with hundred-dollar bills" - ?!?!?!?!

[BumRushDaShow]

12. ...

Link to tweet

TEXT

An Open Secret
@AnOpenSecret
·
Aug 12, 2021
Replying to @AnOpenSecret
"U.S. Magistrate Judge Becky R. Thorson ordered that Lazzaro remain jailed until a court hearing next week, after prosecutors claimed 6 victims had asked for additional protection from Lazzaro."
GOP Strategist Arrested for Underage Sex Trafficking
The feds just arrested wealthy Republican strategist and occasional Fox News guest Anton Lazzaro on five counts of underage sex trafficking.
thedailybeast.com

An Open Secret
@AnOpenSecret
Tony Lazarro IG @mplstony

https://instagram.com/p/CB227EFp9n3/
Image
4:53 PM · Aug 12, 2021

I thought this was interesting -

Link to tweet

TEXT

An Open Secret
@AnOpenSecret
·
Aug 12, 2021
Replying to @AnOpenSecret
This aged poorly
Anton (Tony) Lazzaro 🇺🇸
@GOPtony
Replying to @HawleyMO and @Mastercard
You are giving Republicans a bad name. Going after porn? Seriously dude? Pathetic.

An Open Secret
@AnOpenSecret
Tony Lazzaro was unhappy that MasterCard stopped business with PornHub, after years of willfully profiting from child rape videos
Image
6:00 PM · Aug 12, 2021

[TheRickles]

15. Thanks, I guess. Yuck.

[BumRushDaShow]

16. I agree with the yuck.

[AZ8theist]

10. He sounds nice....

[crud]

13. I don't remember where this quote comes from...

Power attracts corruption.

Criminals are attracted to the Republican Party because they have no honor, no conscience, no shame.

[tanyev]

14. POS SOP.

[maxrandb]

18. Same thing the supporters of the insurrection party are telling School Boards

"we know where you live"

I do blame Donnie Dipshit, but really...all he did was take the Retrumplicans Party where hate radio and Faux News were already leading it.