The Matt Gaetz AG Nomination Befuddles Nearly Everyone

Donald Trump nominated Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) for attorney general, a move that has sparked widespread debate across the political spectrum. Gaetz, a staunch Trump ally, resigned from the House immediately following his nomination, raising questions over whether he is skirting the ethics investigation against him.

After years of legal battles waged by the Biden-Harris administration against Trump, he likely wants someone exceptionally loyal who would turn the Justice Department’s (DOJ) focus away from him. Another possible consideration, pointed out by commentator Ben Shapiro, is that up to half the Justice Department staff could potentially resign if Gaetz assumed the AG role.

During his time in Congress, Gaetz’s decisions — from leading the charge to oust former Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) to advocating for election challenges after 2020 — made him somewhat of a black sheep on Capitol Hill. However, his loyal support for Trump’s agenda has earned him praise from conservatives who see him as a strong anti-establishment figure akin to some of Trump’s other cabinet picks.

Critics, on the other hand, argue that his limited legal experience and ongoing controversies make him unfit to lead the nation’s top law enforcement agency. Lawyer and National Review columnist Andrew McCarthy cautioned that his nomination risks undermining Trump’s credibility, calling the move “foolish” and “futile.”

Gaetz’s resignation also ended the House Ethics Committee probe into allegations of sexual misconduct, drug use, and campaign fund misuse. While no charges were brought against him in a separate DOJ investigation, many see the unresolved ethics report as a major cloud over his nomination.

Many are divided on Gaetz’s nomination. Some argue that his unwavering loyalty to Trump makes him an ideal candidate to reform a Justice Department they believe has been heavily weaponized against Republicans — and specifically against the president-elect.

Sen. John Fetterman (D-PA) may have provided the most fitting description of Gaetz’s nomination: that it was “god-tier level trolling” designed to “own the libs in perpetuity.”