Via Reuters: Trump taps firebrand congressman Matt Gaetz for attorney general.
President-elect Donald Trump on Wednesday named firebrand Republican U.S. Representative Matt Gaetz to be his nominee for attorney general, as he moves swiftly to assemble a Cabinet.
“Matt will end Weaponized Government, protect our Borders, dismantle Criminal Organizations and restore Americans’ badly-shattered Faith and Confidence in the Justice Department,” Trump said in a statement announcing the selection, which would be subject to confirmation by the Republican-majority Senate.
This is a stomach-churning choice.
Gaetz is, at best, a self-important, unserious bomb-thrower who behaves more like a reality TV character than a Congressman.
At worst, he has been credibly linked to drug-use and sex with minors.
He remains under investigation in the House, even if DoJ declined to file charges. Via ABC News: Ethics probe into Matt Gaetz now reviewing allegations of sexual misconduct and illicit drug use.
As part of its ongoing investigation into Rep. Matt Gaetz, the House Ethics Committee recently issued a subpoena for documents from a civil lawsuit brought by one of the Florida congressman’s longtime friends against several third parties, ABC News has learned.
The subpoena, which has not been previously reported, requests all documents related to Gaetz that are part of a lawsuit brought last year by Gaetz’s longtime friend, prominent Florida lobbyist Chris Dorworth, who alleged he was defamed by several third parties over the course of the yearslong sex trafficking probe into Gaetz, sources told ABC News.
The documents from the lawsuit, which include witness depositions and affidavits, could provide Congress with new details regarding allegations that have dogged Gaetz for years, including the allegation he had sex with a minor who was introduced to him by his onetime friend Joel Greenberg, who pleaded guilty to sex trafficking and is serving an 11-year prison sentence.
That story is from last month.
This is not the type of person you make Attorney General of the United States.
Between this and the Hegseth nomination, I guess we are about to see how far gone the GOP is. I note no one has yet defended the Hegseth nomination. How about for Mr. Gaetz? How long before folks realize what they voted for?
BTW, congrats on the Majority Leader status, Senator Thune.
Plus, I guess that like the president-elect, all of this is not only not disqualifying, but is a get-out-of-jail-free card. Via the NYT:
Representative Michael Guest, Republican of Mississippi and chairman of the House Ethics Committee, told reporters that any congressional ethics inquiries into Gaetz would end if he is confirmed by the Senate and resigns from Congress. He said Gaetz’s case was “not unique” and the committee “regularly” closes investigations when members resign, retire or lose their re-election bids. He said the committee would not rush out a report prior to Gaetz’s Senate confirmation hearings.
“The Ethics Committee will put a report when the investigation is finalized,” Guest said.
“I’ve got to believe that the president is at peace with his selection, and this is who he wants to lead the Department of Justice for the next four years.”
