Maryland LGBTQ Dems activist leader caught in child sex predator sting: report

A leader of the LGBTQ Diversity Council for the Maryland Democrats has been caught in an alleged sex predator sting. Michael Knaapen was confronted by journalist Alex Rosen, and read messages reportedly from Knaapen to a 14-year-old boy.    

Rosen walked up to Knaapen while he was in a restaurant and brought him outside to engage him about the messages he allegedly had with the teenager. Rosen asked Knaapen about multiple different explicit messages that he was allegedly sending to a 14-year-old boy. Knaapen seemed to admit to the messages on video.    

  
The journalist confirmed with Knaapen that he had seen a text where the boy had said he was 14 years of age. When Rosen initially brought up the text messages, Knaapen admitted to it and said that it was a "provocative conversation" with the boy. When Rosen asked if the LGBTQ activist had sent penis pictures to him, Knaapen replied, "I'm sure."  
  
Rosen then asked why there was a masturbation video sent in the messages. The activist replied, "I told you it was a provocative conversation."

Rosen asked him about his position as the chair of the LGBTQ Diversity Council for the Maryland Democrats and then pressed him on the messages.   

"Some of this stuff said here, like, you know 'I want to rape you,' 'I want to see how much of a f*ggot you are,' what was kinda said about that?"   

Knaapen said that he liked fantasy and the teenage boy on the other end of the conversation seemed to "enjoy it."   

Rosen posted screenshots of the messages allegedly between Knaapen and the teenager.    

The journalist asked Knaapen about a message that read, “Want daddy to show you his fat hairy d*ck? Hungry, little guy?” as well as others. Another message purportedly from Knaapen to the minor said, “Do a little fashion show and send daddy all your cutest outfits. I love looking at you, and you love to show off.”   

Other explicit messages were shared on Rosen’s social media that were allegedly between Knaapen and the teenager.    

  
According to his LinkedIn page, Knaapen did not "want to be an activist" but instead saw his LGBTQ work as being an "effectivist."  
  

  
His profile on the Maryland Democrats page stated, "Michael Knaapen (Mike, he/him) is a native Wisconsinite who has lived in Montgomery County, Maryland, for all but one of the past ten years. There he has helped form and lead the LGBTQ Democrat of Montgomery County, lobbied in Annapolis for LGBTQ measures, and organized Stonewall Riot commemorative events."