Associated Press
Donald Trump’s choice of Matt Gaetz to be attorney general has many Justice Department employees reeling, worried not only about their own jobs but the future of the agency that the Trump loyalist has railed against.
The president-elect’s pick of the Florida Republican sent a shock throughout the Cabinet department, considering Gaetz’s lack of experience in law enforcement and the fact that he was once the subject of a federal sex trafficking investigation. The names of well-regarded veteran lawyers had circulated as possible contenders for the job, but Gaetz’s selection was broadly interpreted as an indication of the premium that Trump places on personal loyalty and Trump’s desire to have a disruptor lead a department that for years investigated and ultimately indicted him.
Career lawyers at the department interviewed by The Associated Press, all of whom spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to share their feelings publicly, described a widespread sense of being stunned by the nomination — even outrage. They spoke of being flooded with calls and messages from colleagues as soon as the news broke.
Some inside the department were not immediately sure that Gaetz, who graduated law school in 2007 but has spent most of his career as a lawmaker, including in Congress, was even a lawyer. And some are already looking for new jobs as concerns grow over Gaetz’s rhetoric about going after the “deep state.”
Trump described Gaetz as the right person to “root out the systemic corruption” within the agency, end “weaponized” government and “restore Americans’ badly-shattered Faith and Confidence in the Justice Department.” Trump has yet to announce a similar leadership change at the FBI, though one may be coming given his long-running criticism of the director, Christopher Wray.
Gaetz faces continued scrutiny over a federal sex trafficking investigation that ended without criminal charges. Before his resignation from the House on Wednesday, he had been under investigation by the House Ethics Committee, which was examining whether he engaged in sexual misconduct and illicit drug use, accepted improper gifts and tried to obstruct government investigations of his conduct.
House Speaker Mike Johnson said Friday that he will “strongly request” that the House committee not release the results of its investigation, rebuffing senators who are demanding access now that Gaetz has been picked for attorney general.
Gaetz has denied all the allegations. On Friday, he posted on X, formerly Twitter, that “lies were Weaponized” in an effort to try to destroy him.
Justice Department employees were already preparing for major shakeup to the agency’s agenda around civil rights and others matters before Trump settled on Gaetz to be the nation’s top federal law enforcement officer.
15 comments
EARL PITTS AMERICAN
November 16, 2024 at 4:39 pm
Good afternoon America,
All my Sage Patriots and Beloved Besty Lefty’s caught this re-print as another “DOOK 4 BRAINS LEFTIST” piece of leftist propaganda.
THAT BEING SAID:
There is a lot of Sage Wisdom which I, EARL PITTS AMERICAN, would like to share with you about how Garland and the other “GUILTY DOOKS” must be starting to feel as their unpleasent time to PAY THE PIPER” gets closer and closer with each passing day.
Sure it was fun for several years to “POKE A STICK” in The Sage Donald Trump’s Eye while trying to Ruin His Chance at Saving Our Great Nation from all Evil Your Democratic Party brought forth upon the Planet.
Let me, EARL PITTS AMERICAN, ask you Dooks a few questions…..do you think Matt Gaitz will “Go Easy” on you Dooks? Have you been Googleing No Extridition Countries? Have you saved up enough money to Live Like A King in those no extridation countries? Are you aware most of the non extridation Countries are Steaming $hlt holes?
I mean, really do you even have a plan?
These questions are important ones you need to come to terms with because the days of pushing a fall-guy [think Ollie North] and everyone else “WALKING” were over FOURTY SOME YEARS AGO. You all will likely go to one of those FEDERAL GOLF COURSE PRISONS for a long time.
Thank you Dooks, and Thank You America,
EARL PITTS AMERICAN
EARL PITTS AMERICAN
November 16, 2024 at 5:14 pm
Good evening America,
I’m sure Matt will just sentance the guilty parties to some short time in one of our Golf Course Federal Prisions. Y’all will likely enjoy a little VayCay from your families with the only real inconvience being adjusting your wanking times.
Relax guilty parties…its gonna be OK!!!!
EARL PITTS AMERICAN
George
November 16, 2024 at 5:28 pm
You’re from Gaetz’s neck of the woods… You one of his blowjobs?
Rick Scott
November 16, 2024 at 6:24 pm
Tropical 2 ocean tornado? Get off the internet and go read books there clown car.
forsaken
November 17, 2024 at 7:34 am
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EARL PITTS AMERICAN
November 17, 2024 at 12:47 pm
Thanks for trolling me Forskin but my at home porn days are in the past.
Have a great day Forskin,
Earl
U.C. Dont
November 17, 2024 at 7:51 am
“Matt Gaetz pick roils Justice Department”
That’s the whole point, don’t you see? It’s “drain the swamp” actualized.
Ocean Joe
November 17, 2024 at 5:28 pm
Exactly. Only Trump’s hiring the swampiest of the swampers for the clean up.
This talk by some about the end of democracy comes to life when the party in power abandons our system of checks and balances to give one man unchecked power.
PeterH
November 17, 2024 at 8:21 am
Matt Gaetz and his potential leadership team at the Justice Department will have absolutely no authority to write or legislate law. That authority resides in Congress. Gaetz can create a storm but will spend four plus years in litigation and be thrown in the trash dumpster in four years time.
KathrynA
November 17, 2024 at 3:35 pm
Someone you wouldn’t want near your daughters in charge of the Justice Department. Just think about that for about 2 seconds. How ridiculous and scary is this! He’s never served as Attorney General in any country or state–zero experience and extremely serious lack of ethics
White Spiteful Demon
November 18, 2024 at 10:47 am
The ACLU would serve him his own shit sandwich Google ACLU Trump Google Trump National Emergency
EARL PITTS AMERICAN
November 17, 2024 at 6:01 pm
All Leftys are getting a little too upset over the Gaetz Appointment. I, EARL PITTS AMERICAN, strongly suggest you Leftys placate yourselves by taking a nice relaxing “Wank Break”.
Wank on Leftys … you will feel a lot less Butt Hurt,
EARL PITTS AMERICAN
JD
November 18, 2024 at 7:25 pm
He’s accused of being a PEDOPHILE. Like Gary Burbank was.
Ronald Cartwright
November 18, 2024 at 6:56 pm
How about at least acknowledging that Gaetz has been convicted of nothing. In fact, I am not certain any criminal charges were filed, much less a conviction. There was a civil suit filed by a lawyer who is now in prison for falsely accusing someone else with a sex crime and lo and behold the woman involved in that one is the same one who made the accusation against Gaetz. The DOJ did nothing with the information citing the fact that the witnesses had no credibility. The only reason that the House took up the investigation after it was rejected by DOJ is that Gaetz is an unpopular guy due to his strong personality and the fact that he implicated several of his cohorts in an insider trading scheme. His unpopularity is also why everyone is screaming about his selection. He would be an excellent choice to get the DOJ straightened out.
JD
November 18, 2024 at 7:24 pm
Let’s be real: Gaetz isn’t ‘unpopular’ because of his personality—it’s because he’s been accused of being a pedophile. The House Ethics report isn’t a trial, and it’s not about convictions; it’s about accountability. Taxpayers funded it, so release it. If there’s nothing damning, prove it.
The same crowd smearing moderates as ‘libturds’ or ‘gr00mers’ now wants us to ignore credible accusations and ethics investigations? Spare me. Johnson backing Gaetz is just more fealty to Trump’s chaos. Stop hiding behind excuses. Release the report.
Comments are closed.