Associated Press
Former Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz’s nomination to be President-elect Donald Trump’s attorney general has created a remarkable amount of hesitation from Republicans, who are otherwise inclined to follow Trump’s wishes.
Gaetz is unpopular with many fellow House Republicans for his push to oust former Speaker Kevin McCarthy and a long trail of stories about his personal conduct, including a federal investigation into allegations that he arranged to have sex with a minor. The investigation was closed without charges and Gaetz denies wrongdoing.
Other Republicans on Wednesday and Thursday said they would consider Gaetz’s nomination with an open mind or noted favorably his advocacy for Trump. Gaetz is a longtime Trump supporter and frequently campaigned for him.
Here are what Republicans are saying about him:
REP. DON BACON, Nebraska:
“I was told growing up that if you don’t have anything good to say, don’t say anything at all.”
JOHN BOLTON, former U.N. ambassador and national security adviser:
“It must be the worst nomination for a Cabinet secretary in American history. I think this is something that falls well outside the scope of deference that should be given to a president in nominating members of the senior team. Gaetz is not only totally incompetent for this job, he doesn’t have the character. He is a person of moral turpitude.”
“Obviously the president has the right to nominate whomever he wishes, but this is where the Senate’s advise and consent process is so important. I’m sure that there will be many, many questions raised at Mr. Gaetz’s hearing if in fact the nomination goes forward.”
SEN. JOHN CORNYN, Texas:
“We’ll handle it like any other nomination. I’m not going to prejudge any of these.”
SEN. KEVIN CRAMER, North Dakota:
“I think it’s a little bit of a test.” “It will take a lot of political capital to get him” confirmed.
SEN. LINDSEY GRAHAM, South Carolina:
“I’m predisposed to try to help presidents with their picks. But he’ll have to answer some tough questions in the hearing, and we’ll see how he does,” Graham said in a statement released Wednesday.
Later Wednesday, Graham said during a Fox News Channel interview, “I think Matt Gaetz is very bright. I think he’s qualified. He’ll have a hearing and he’ll have some tough questions to answer,” and suggested that Republicans “Give Matt a chance.”
SENATE GOP LEADER JOHN THUNE, South Dakota:
“That’s probably a good question for the chairman of the Judiciary Committee.”
SEN. CHUCK GRASSLEY, Iowa, the likely next chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee:
“I suppose I’ll have to look at it. That’s all I can say at this point because I don’t know much about Matt Gaetz.”
HOUSE SPEAKER MIKE JOHNSON, Louisiana:
Gaetz is “one of the most intelligent” members of Congress and “a reformer in his mind and heart.” “I think he’ll bring a lot to the table on that.”
REP. ANNA PAULINA LUNA, Florida:
“So a lot of people will try to brand him just as a firebrand. But the fact is that there is a lot of strategy behind” Gaetz’s effort to oust former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy.
SEN. MARKWAYNE MULLIN, Oklahoma:
“Matt Gaetz and I, there’s no question, we’ve had our differences. I completely trust President Trump’s decision-making on this one. But at the same time, (Gaetz) has to come to … the Senate and sell himself. There’s a lot of questions that are going to be out there. He’s got to answer those questions.”
SEN. LISA MURKOWSKI, Alaska:
“I do not see him as a serious candidate. The president is free to nominate whoever he may wish. Our constitutional role in nominations is to provide advice. … I don’t know that any of my Senate colleagues advise that Matt Gaetz name should go up, but it’s what (Trump) apparently has advanced. But, then our role is to determine the consent end of it. Do we give our consent or do we not?”
SEN. MARCO RUBIO, Florida.
“I’ve known Matt for a very long time. We’re friends. I think he would do a very good job for the president.”
REP. MIKE SIMPSON, Idaho:
“That was about as big a surprise as I’ve had in a long time. I have a really hard time believing he could get through the Senate confirmation process. You never know.”
SEN. THOM TILLIS, North Carolina:
“I’ve got very few skills. Vote-counting is one. I think he’s got a lot of work to do to get 50” votes in the Senate. “Presumably, the folks who have put him forward have gamed that out. But, I’m sure it will make for a popcorn-eating confirmation hearing. Mr. Gaetz and I have jousted on certain issues between the House and the Senate. … There’s obviously been a lot of disagreements between members of the Senate and Mr. Gaetz.”
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Republished with permission of the Associated Press.
18 comments
Lauren
November 15, 2024 at 8:43 am
Couldn’t you find any more RINO’s/Deep Stater’s to quote on your article? Gaetz is outstanding! EVERY America First Trump supporter I know is thrilled with the choice of Gaetz as AG. I’m just sorry he won’t be running for governor in 2026.
Florida is Red
November 15, 2024 at 9:15 am
I appreciate your passion Lauren and I was a big Gaetz fan until he pulled that ouster on McCarthy last year or so. I no longer support him and I don’t think he is a viable Governor candidate as well. There are better Florida Repubs at this point for that job when it opens up.
A Day without MAGA
November 15, 2024 at 9:56 am
Said much about the person that appointed him
MarvinM
November 15, 2024 at 4:22 pm
Well, if he doesn’t get confirmed as AG, he might just be running for governor in 2026.
Let the Republican House-led ethics committee report be released at least to the Senate who has the constitutional role to advise the president on his picks and then consent to them.
If Gaetz is as outstanding as you think he is, then no probs with that report being released – right?
But maybe, just maybe, Gaetz has some serious baggage, a shady past, many things about his character that you might not want him as America’s “Top Cop”.
JD
November 15, 2024 at 9:42 am
Trump’s nominations is like the f*cking The Legion of Doom from that old Justice League cartoon. It’s like We woke up in bizzaro world. Matt Gaetz for Attorney General? Get the f*ck out of here. F*cking people have turned retarded. Let’s put in a sex trafficker of under age girls the head of the legal arm of the USA. Lawfare indeed. Like Asimov said, there’s a Cult of Ignorance in the USA.
A Day without MAGA
November 15, 2024 at 9:57 am
This should start a Republican civil war with MAGA
JD
November 15, 2024 at 10:01 am
Trump will ram-rod it through in a recess.
BTW, my f*cking eggs are $3.99 at Aldis and $5.99 at publix. Gas was $3.13 / gal. Where’s Trump fixing that sh!t?
Lies from the GOP.
Florida is Red
November 15, 2024 at 11:29 am
He’s not President yet dumb azz. Have to wait till Jan. Dumb and Dumber have plenty of time to screw things up further until then n
JD
November 15, 2024 at 11:44 am
Oh, bless your little MAGA brain. So now the excuse is ‘he’s not president yet’? Convenient. You guys screamed he’d fix everything the second the election was over. But sure, let’s wait and see if he rides in on a golden golf cart to magically fix eggs and gas—spoiler: he won’t. Keep clinging to those lies, though; it’s clearly all you’ve got.
Florida is Red
November 15, 2024 at 1:23 pm
You really are clueless. Go read a
civics book
JD
November 15, 2024 at 2:53 pm
There’s the problem: they ditched social studies for civics, so now kids learn how government works but not why it got so messed up in the first place.
CW
November 15, 2024 at 12:53 pm
Where in FLA do you live?
I just paid $2.87 per gal of gas, $3.90 for a gal of milk and $4.25 for 18 eggs. Trump hasn’t done anything but run his mouth and pick ridiculous people for cabinet positions.
Let’s see how interest rates and prices are in a couple of years…
JD
November 15, 2024 at 1:11 pm
SWFL. Come on by.
JD
November 15, 2024 at 1:15 pm
And as for interest rates, he wants to put the Fed under his control to keep them artificially low, even if inflation spirals out of control—and it will. When that inevitably fails and the black market starts taking hold, he’ll pressure government reporting agencies to suppress the data, just like Florida did during COVID. It’s all complete bullsh*t.
Florida is Red
November 15, 2024 at 2:41 pm
JD and Rick Whitaker who I will now call Eeyore need anger management training.
JD
November 15, 2024 at 2:55 pm
My anger (and man-made global warming) keep me warm at night.
CW
November 15, 2024 at 12:44 pm
Gaetz is a selfish politician with a 1990’s Frat boy mentality.
His Work Hard, Party Hard, Play Hard lifestyle may impress some, but as a teacher it would get me fired in a heartbeat. Poor character and life choices should not be rewarded. He is BAD choice for AG.
JD
November 15, 2024 at 2:56 pm
Gaetz is a member of the Legion of Doom
Comments are closed.