Trump picks loyalist Matt Gaetz of Florida as US attorney general

United States President-elect Donald Trump has announced that Republican Congressman Matt Gaetz, 42, will service arsenic his lawyer general, a domiciled that doubles arsenic nan country’s apical charismatic and nan caput of nan Department of Justice.

Trump announced nan information successful a station connected his Truth Social level connected Wednesday, citing Gaetz’s inheritance arsenic a lawyer and arsenic a personnel of nan House Judiciary Committee.

He besides indicated that Gaetz’s information would beryllium portion of his schedule to rout nan authorities of perceived rivals. Trump has agelong accused Democrats of “weaponising” nan Justice Department against him, an allegation he revisited successful Wednesday’s announcement.

“Few issues successful America are much important than ending nan partisan Weaponization of our Justice System,” Trump wrote successful his statement.

“Matt will extremity Weaponized Government, protect our Borders, dismantle Criminal Organizations and reconstruct Americans’ badly-shattered Faith and Confidence successful nan Justice Department.”

A Trump loyalist, Gaetz celebrated his information connected societal media, calling it an “an grant to service arsenic President Trump’s Attorney General”.

Earlier successful nan day, nan US typical besides echoed nan president-elect’s remarks astir perceived bias successful nan government.

“We ought to person a afloat tribunal property against this WEAPONIZED authorities that has been turned against our people,” Gaetz wrote.

“And if that intends ABOLISHING each 1 of nan 3 missive agencies, from nan FBI to nan ATF, I’m fresh to get going!”

A fractious choice

Gaetz’s ascent to nan post, however, is by nary intends assured. As a nominee for a cabinet-level post, nan firebrand Gaetz will person to walk what is judge to beryllium a contentious confirmation ballot successful nan US Senate.

Republicans will return power of nan Senate successful January, but galore successful nan statement position nan far-right Gaetz arsenic an unlikeable careerist.

Gaetz took a cardinal domiciled successful splintering nan Republican Party past October erstwhile he led an effort to topple erstwhile Republican House Speaker Kevin McCarthy.

The ouster triggered weeks of uncertainty successful nan House, which struggled to elite a replacement for McCarthy.

While Gaetz portrayed himself arsenic an anti-establishment insurgent consenting to return connected powerful forces wrong his ain party, immoderate Republicans viewed McCarthy’s ejection arsenic a publicity stunt meant to elevate Gaetz’s profile.

One of his chap Republicans from Florida, Representative Carlos Gimenez, moreover told nan publication Politico that Gaetz is politically isolated moreover successful his ain location state.

“Gaetz possibly has a mates of friends successful nan delegation,” Gimenez said successful 2023. “But I’m not 1 of them.”

Trump’s priorities

But Gaetz’s action arsenic lawyer wide is nan latest parameter of nan ideas and priorities that could specify Trump’s 2nd word successful office.

On nan run trail, Trump often said of retribution against governmental rivals and officials who criticised him aliases refused his demands, including immoderate related to his efforts to illegitimately overturn his nonaccomplishment successful nan 2020 election.

“Well, revenge does return time. I will opportunity that,” Trump told TV big Phil McGraw successful June. “And sometimes revenge tin beryllium justified, Phil. I person to beryllium honest.”

Trump has besides often bashed nan Department of Justice for its domiciled successful pursuing 2 of nan 4 criminal indictments he faced.

Led by Special Counsel Jack Smith, national prosecutors charged Trump pinch crimes related to his attempts to overturn nan 2020 predetermination and his refusal to surrender classified documents aft leaving nan White House successful 2021.

In response, Trump has called nan Department of Justice nan “Department of Injustice” and accused it of trying to sabotage his re-election run successful 2024.

“All of these FAKE POLITICAL PROSECUTIONS (PERSECUTIONS!) OF CROOKED JOE BIDEN’S POLITICAL OPPONENT MUST BE IMMEDIATELY HALTED!” he wrote connected Truth Social successful February.

Legal troubles

By aiming to spot Gaetz arsenic nan caput of nan department, critics judge Trump is signalling that individual loyalty is cardinal to his incoming administration.

The prime of Gaetz besides elevates a chap Republican who, for illustration Trump, has faced an investigation from nan Department of Justice.

In caller years, allegations person surfaced that nan Florida lawmaker offered gifts to underage girls for sex. Gaetz has firmly denied nan accusations. In February 2023, nan Department of Justice concluded an investigation into nan matter without bringing charges.

McCarthy, meanwhile, responded to nan allegations by calling Gaetz “a smart feline without morals” that “no 1 tin stand”.

Nevertheless, nan House Ethics Committee has continued its investigation into allegations that Gaetz engaged successful intersexual misconduct and supplier use.

In September, Gates said that he would nary longer cooperate pinch nan “uncomfortably nosy” committee and described nan investigation arsenic a “political payback exercise”.