"He will think he is above the law. It will be corrupt like hell." "It's hard to imagine a worse candidate." As President-elect Donald Trump nominated 'far-right' Representative Matt Gaetz as the next administration's Attorney General, voices of shock and concern are pouring in. This is because Gaetz, who has been embroiled in far-right controversies and prostitution allegations, is deemed inappropriate for the Attorney General position, which requires higher political neutrality and morality than other key administration posts. Analysts suggest that Trump, who has been plagued by 'judicial risks,' intends to wield a sweeping blade by placing the 'most loyal of the loyal' in this position.
Major foreign media outlets, including The Washington Post (WP), reported on the 13th (local time) that there were reactions of anger and shock following Trump’s selection of Gaetz as Attorney General. WP stated, "Gaetz, who is under investigation by the House Ethics Committee related to a prostitution scandal, was not even on the potential Attorney General list after the election," adding, "His nomination shocked even Trump’s close aides and has sparked skeptical reactions in Congress, including among Republican lawmakers."
Senator Susan Collins, a moderate Republican, said, "I was shocked to hear the announcement," and pointed out, "It shows why advice and consent procedures are important. Many questions will be raised during the confirmation process." Senator Lisa Murkowski (Republican) evaluated that he is not suitable for the position. The Guardian reported that Republican lawmakers were avoiding reporters' questions about Gaetz’s nomination for Attorney General. Representative Tom Cole, Chairman of the House Budget Committee (Republican), said, "I don’t know anything about that," avoiding an answer. Senator Ron Johnson (Republican) gave a general response, saying, "The president can choose his candidate." Senator Chuck Grassley (Republican) stopped responding altogether.
Gaetz, a core member of the Republican hardline group ‘Freedom Caucus,’ has been regarded as a figure causing division even within the party. He is a self-proclaimed advocate of America First and a representative far-right figure close to Trump. He led claims of election fraud regarding the 2020 presidential election and participated in protests with the far-right group Proud Boys to overturn the results. Trump, who has been plagued by 'judicial risks,' has effectively appointed the most loyal of the loyal to the Attorney General position.
Additionally, Gaetz was the person who led the unprecedented removal and resignation of then-House Speaker Kevin McCarthy last year. He has been criticized by Republican elders such as former House Speaker Newt Gingrich as "the person who ruined the Republican Party." He has many long-standing adversaries even within the Republican Party. Senator Tom Tillis (Republican), a member of the Judiciary Committee, pointed out, "He will have to work hard to get 50 votes for confirmation," noting that he will not get a single vote from Democrats and has poor relations with many Republican lawmakers.
Moreover, the prostitution allegations surrounding Gaetz have further expanded criticism that this nomination is inappropriate. Gaetz was investigated in 2017 for allegedly soliciting prostitution from a 17-year-old girl. Details of the investigation have not been disclosed. Earlier, he was directly criticized by fellow lawmakers for sharing videos of 'girls' who had slept with him in the House. Even earlier, in 2008, he was arrested for drunk driving. Some Republican lawmakers and aides, speaking on condition of anonymity, sarcastically told WP that if Gaetz becomes Attorney General, the House Ethics Committee will no longer investigate sexual misconduct allegations. The outlet reported, "Gaetz will be the first U.S. Attorney General in about 40 years without experience as a lawyer or judge." Politico noted, "Trump’s second-term cabinet picks looked somewhat normal until Matt Gaetz appeared," highlighting the critical public opinion.
Olivia Troye, an anti-Trump figure who served in the first Trump administration, criticized, "This person (Gaetz) has long been running away from the law, so he will think he is above the law," adding, "It will be corrupt like hell." Robert Weissman, co-president of the watchdog group Public Citizen, stated in a press release, "It is hard to imagine a worse and less qualified candidate than Gaetz," and criticized, "He despises the rule of law, truth, and dignity, and is unfit to lead the Department of Justice."
President-elect Trump is expected to use loyalist Gaetz as Attorney General to launch full-scale retaliation against political opponents and wield a sweeping blade against the Department of Justice organization that indicted him. The Guardian predicted that despite the controversies surrounding Gaetz, Republican senators will ultimately vote according to Trump’s wishes. The outlet reported, "It is uncertain whether Gaetz will be confirmed by the Senate, but it is clear that some who previously criticized him are ready to support him."
Earlier, President-elect Trump announced his intention to neutralize congressional checks during the cabinet formation process through a 'Recess Appointment.' A recess appointment is a presidential power to appoint official candidates without congressional confirmation during congressional recess. Judging that the process might be delayed due to Democratic opposition in appointing loyalists to the second Trump administration cabinet, he preemptively issued guidelines to the Republican Senate. Senator John Thune, elected as the Senate Republican leader that day, also expressed agreement with this policy. Meanwhile, the Republican Party, victorious in the U.S. presidential election, secured majority status in the House following the Senate, thus holding power over both the executive and legislative branches.
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