The people's voice of reason
The people's voice of reason
President Donald J. Trump and Rep. Matt Gaetz
November 14, 2024 - President-elect Donald J. Trump (R) announced on Wednesday that he plans to nominate Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Florida) as U.S. Attorney General. The announcement caused a firestorm in Washington as Gaetz has been widely criticized both for his combative political style – he orchestrated the ouster of former Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy – and for troubling questions about alleged ethical lapses.
At one point Congressman Mike Rogers (R-AL03) had to be restrained from attacking Gaetz on the House floor.
Shortly after the announcement, Gaetz abruptly resigned from Congress eroding the GOP's already small majority in the House of Representatives ahead of an important fight over keeping the government funded through Christmas and into the next fiscal year.
The New York Times then released a bombshell report, citing Republican sources in the House, that the House Ethics Committee was set to vote to release a formal report alleging that Gaetz engaged in both sexual misconduct and used illegal drugs.
Gaetz's abrupt resignation effectively ends the lengthy House investigation into Gaetz.
Gaetz had previously been the subject of a Department of Justice investigation into sex trafficking. That DOJ investigation closed without ever charging Gaetz.
Former Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy (R-California) who is now a political commentator predicted that the Senate – even though the Republicans have a 53 to 47 majority – will never confirm Gaetz.
"Gaetz won't get confirmed, everybody knows that," McCarthy said in an interview with Bloomberg Television.
"I'm all about counting votes, and I would think that he's [Gaetz] probably got some work cut out for him," said Senator Thom Tillis (R-North Carolina) on Wednesday. "We're not going to get a single Democrat."
Speaker of the House Mike Johnson (R-Louisiana) said that Gaetz's resignation is so that the House can fill the seat more quickly given the small majority that the GOP has in the House in the upcoming Congress.
On Wednesday, President Trump also nominated former Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard (D-Hawaii) for the position of Director of National Intelligence.
Former national security adviser John Bolton responded to the two controversial appointments saying that both Gabbard and Gaetz should not appear for their Senate confirmation hearings until they are investigated by the FBI.
Bolton told the Hill that the formal probes would send a message to China that the U.S. is serious about its national security.
"I don't think either she or Matt Gaetz ought to have a confirmation hearing until they have both had full field FBI investigations," Bolton told News Nation anchor Blake Burman. "And then I think the Chinese would say, 'Maybe they are serious.'"
Bolton accused Gabbard of spreading Russian propaganda.
"Given the Russian propaganda that she has espoused over the past period of time, I think she's a serious threat to our national security," Bolton said. "With his announcement of Tulsi Gabbard to be the Director of National Intelligence, he's sending a signal that we have lost our mind when it comes to collecting intelligence."
"A few hours ago, I would have said that was the worst cabinet appointment in recent American history," Bolton added. "Of course, since Matt Gaetz's nomination, he clearly has taken the lead on that score."
Bolton served as the U.S. Ambassador to the United Nation under President George W. Bush (R) and as National Security Advisor in the first Trump administration. Widely viewed as a neoconservative hawk who has frequently supported a policy of regime changes using American military force, Bolton and Trump clashed over foreign policy. He then published a best selling book about his time in the Trump administration that is highly critical of President Trump.
President Trump has asked Senate Republicans to give him broader recess appointment powers so that he can install members of his cabinet without going through the lengthy Senate confirmation process. For example when Bush appointed Bolton as UN Ambassador it was through the recess appointment process.
There has also been some criticism of Trump's pick as Defense Secretary – Fox News weekend host Pete Hegseth. Hegseth served as a platoon commander in the Army National Guard in Iraq; but has never served in the Pentagon or held a senior command.
Trump also confirmed on Wednesday that he plans to nominate Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Florida) as secretary of state.
Trump met with President Biden at the White House on Wednesday where he pledged a smooth transition. He also met with House Republicans.
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