Joe Scarborough, the host of MSNBC’s Morning Joe, is reportedly gripped with fear at the prospect of Rep. Matt Gaetz becoming the next U.S. Attorney General under a second Donald Trump presidency. Central to these concerns is the potential reopening of an investigation into the 2001 death of Lori Klausutis, a young intern who worked in Scarborough’s congressional office during his tenure as a Florida representative.
Theories and rumors about Klausutis’ untimely death have circulated for over two decades. At just 28 years old, Klausutis died in Scarborough’s district office in Fort Walton Beach, Florida. An autopsy determined her death was accidental, citing an undiagnosed cardiac arrhythmia that caused her to collapse, striking her head on a desk. Her skull fracture, the autopsy concluded, was fatal. Despite the findings, the case has remained a magnet for conspiracy theories.
In 2020, former President Donald Trump amplified the controversy, calling for a renewed investigation into the intern’s death. At the time, his statements reignited public scrutiny and led to further accusations from Trump allies, including Matt Gaetz.
According to a report from Puck News, Scarborough and his wife and co-host, Mika Brzezinski, recently met with Trump at Mar-a-Lago. The report alleges that their visit was motivated by anxiety over Gaetz potentially reviving the conspiracy theories should he hold a position of significant power in a Trump administration.
One source quoted in the Puck News article stated:
“Joe and Mika have told friends and associates they’re afraid that Trump and Gaetz will resurrect a decades-old, totally baseless conspiracy theory about Lori Klausutis’ death. They fear it will be used to apply legal pressure on Scarborough and make his life a living hell.”
This anxiety is reportedly rooted in a 2022 account by former White House communications director Alyssa Farah Griffin. During the January 6 committee hearings, Farah Griffin testified that she encountered Gaetz outside the Oval Office carrying a folder of conspiracy theories about Scarborough. She claimed that Gaetz presented these theories to Trump, which Trump later referenced in tweets calling for an investigation.
Despite the lack of evidence supporting the theories, Scarborough and Brzezinski are allegedly concerned about the fallout if Gaetz were to pursue legal action. According to one insider, the couple sees Gaetz as unpredictable and potentially willing to leverage these theories as a form of retribution.
The Puck News source added:
“They are petrified of retribution and of Gaetz opening an investigation into Joe and the intern. This meeting wasn’t about ratings or Comcast. It was about trying to mitigate the possibility of a witch hunt.”
However, Scarborough himself denies these allegations. When reached for comment, an MSNBC spokesperson dismissed the claims as “false and inaccurate,” asserting that the couple’s visit to Mar-a-Lago was unrelated to concerns about Klausutis or any potential investigation by Gaetz.
Coincidentally, both Scarborough and Gaetz have represented Florida’s 1st Congressional District, adding an unusual twist to their tense dynamic. While Gaetz has yet to comment publicly on whether he would pursue such an investigation, his past willingness to entertain and promote controversial theories leaves many speculating about his future actions.
Notably, some of the conspiracy theory’s traction stems from comments Scarborough made himself. In a 2003 appearance on Imus in the Morning, the host joked with Don Imus about having an affair with his intern and needing to “kill her.” Though clearly in jest, the comments have since been weaponized to fuel speculation about Scarborough’s alleged involvement in Klausutis’ death.
Critics of the theory argue that such claims are unfounded and harmful to Klausutis’ family. Over the years, her loved ones have pleaded for the public and the media to stop politicizing her death. Scarborough himself has previously called the allegations “sick” and “twisted,” expressing frustration that Klausutis’ tragic passing continues to be exploited.
The Puck News report underscores the intersection of media, politics, and personal grievance in an era where public figures are often targeted by conspiracy theories. Whether Gaetz’s alleged interest in the case translates into action remains to be seen, but for now, the fear of a politically motivated investigation continues to cast a shadow over Scarborough and Brzezinski.
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