Correct me if I am wrong but don't they really just have to prove contact?
It's far more than that.
They would have to prove that Gaetz, or someone on his behalf, instructed or offered a bribe or something to not talk to the authorities.
Let's say it's you and me and the cops are wanting you to cooperate. I call you to ask how you are holding up. We talk a bit and that's it. I never offer you a thing, I only ask how you're doing and apologize for the crap I did that dragged you into it all.
That's not obstruction at all even though it is contact.
But if during that conversation I say something like, "If you talk bad things can happen to you or your family" or "keep your mouth shut and there's 6 figures in it for you" then that is obstruction.
Simple contact with someone is nothing at all.
The problem though is if someone says they did it without gaetz's knowledge then only the contacts gets charged?
That's not obstruction either. Not wanting to cooperate with police is not a crime.
Example, and this is actually possible: The girl is already embarrassed about the entire thing. Even though she did nothing illegal, she doesn't want to testify against Gaetz because she's going to be made out to be a whore in court. And she would be right.
And there's a very, very good chance that's exactly why she doesn't want to cooperate. If she does, her name becomes public. Her reputation could easily be ruined.
Now, they could COMPELL her to talk, but she could and probably would simply plead the 5th.
That's why I think this entire story is crap. I think I'm totally right in that she doesn't want her reputation ruined and she's done nothing wrong so she's not wanting to get involved. So they've cooked up all kinds of crap about her and "leaked" it to the press to put pressure on her to turn state's evidence.
And it isn't working.