Donald Trump, the President-elect of the United States, officially nominated Republican Representative Matt Gaetz as the head of the Department of Justice for his second administration on the 13th (local time).
On the same day, Trump announced Gaetz's nomination as Attorney General through the social networking service (SNS) Truth Social, stating, "There are few issues more important than ending the weaponization of the judicial system." He added, "Matt will eradicate the systemic corruption within the Department of Justice and ensure that the DOJ returns to its true mission of crime eradication and the protection of democracy and the Constitution."
Gaetz is regarded as a pro-Trump figure within the Republican Party and is known for his far-right stance. He is a key member of the Republican hardline conservative group called the 'Freedom Caucus.' It was widely expected that Trump, who has suffered from 'judicial risks,' would appoint a loyalist as the head of the DOJ.
Gaetz is also known for leading the effort to remove Kevin McCarthy as Speaker of the House last year. However, he has been a controversial figure in U.S. politics due to allegations including drunk driving and involvement in prostitution.
In the United States, the Attorney General oversees the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and federal prosecutors. With Trump appointing a loyalist lawmaker as the head of the DOJ, there are evaluations that he may use the Department of Justice to retaliate against political opponents or undertake a major overhaul of the DOJ organization that indicted him. According to foreign media, Trump’s close aides regard the Attorney General position as the second most important role after the presidency in the second administration.
Trump, who was criminally indicted four times last year, including charges related to attempts to overturn the election results, has been critical of the DOJ. He also clashed with Attorney General Jeff Sessions, who authorized the investigation into contacts between the Trump campaign and Russia in 2016, and with William Barr, who publicly refuted claims of election fraud in 2020.
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