Matt Gaetz will “likely be in prison by 2024”, former US Vice President Mike Pence’s chief of staff Marc Short told CNN. The former staffer was responding to Gaetz saying that Pence is not President material.

Short said that he was “not too worried” about the impact has on the 2024 elections. Gaetz, a controversial Republican representing Florida’s 1st Congressional district, is currently being probed for alleged sex trafficking and statutory rape of a 17-year-old girl.

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“I do not think Matt Gaetz will have an impact on that. In fact, I would be surprised if he was still voting. It is more likely he will be in prison for child sex trafficking by 2024”, Short said in a statement to CNN.

He added, “And I am actually surprised that Florida law enforcement still allows him to speak to teenage conferences like that. So I am not too worried about Matt Gaetz.”

Gaetz was also one of the lawmakers and officials who sought a presidential pardon from former US President Donald Trump. Cassidy Hutchinson, a former White House aid, said Gaetz requested a pardon that would “cover any and all things.”

Gaetz faced heavy criticism last week and was accused of “fat shaming.” While speaking Turning Point USA Student Action Summit, the Congressman made controversial various statements.

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He said, “Have you watched these pro-abortion, pro-murder rallies? The people are just disgusting.” Gaetz added the women attending these rallies “looked like a thumb” and had the “least likelihood of getting pregnant.”

Marc Short, on the other hand, told CNN that he spoke to a grand jury investigating the Capitol riots last week. While details about his testimony are not available, he said this was the first time he engaged with the grand jury. Short has previously spoken to the January 6 committee, which is formed by the House of Representatives.