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stated on December 12, 2022 in a Facebook post:

A video shows Rep. Matt Gaetz threatening Robert Mueller with jail time.

False

No, this video doesn’t show Matt Gaetz threatening Robert Mueller with jail time

If your time is short

  • Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., doesn’t threaten Robert Mueller with jail time in this video. It’s just the latest video to make wild claims about events that don’t really happen in the clip.
 
See the sources for this fact-check

In a video clip circulating on social media, did U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., appear combative as he questioned former special counsel Robert Mueller? Sure. Did he threaten Mueller with jail time? Not quite. 

“‘DID PUTIN TELL YOU’ Matt Gaetz ramps up against Mueller with JAILTIME after makes up Putin’s words,” a Dec. 12 Facebook post sharing the video says. It promises an “update as of” that day.

This post was flagged as part of Facebook’s efforts to combat false news and misinformation on its News Feed. (Read more about our partnership with Meta, which owns Facebook.)

We watched the eight-minute video, and not only does Gaetz not mention Russian President Vladimir Putin, nor suggest that Mueller falsely attributed something to Putin, he doesn’t suggest incarceration for Mueller, who led an investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election.

There’s also no Dec. 12 update to speak of. 

The clip comes from a July 2019 House Judiciary Committee hearing during which Gaetz questioned Mueller about the Steele dossier, a research memo containing claims about former President Donald Trump. 

We rate claims that this video shows Gaetz threatening Mueller with jail time False.

 

No, this video doesn’t show Matt Gaetz threatening Robert Mueller with jail time

Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
stated on January 7, 2026 a press briefing

stated on January 14, 2026 a statement

Social Media
stated on February 14, 2026 social media posts



stated on January 20, 2026 an op-ed


Donald Trump
stated on February 3, 2026 remarks in the Oval Office


Social Media
stated on February 8, 2026 social media posts





Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
stated on stated on November 17, 2025 in remarks at George Washington University:

Donald Trump
stated on February 2, 2026 an interview with Dan Bongino