Trump announces he will nominate Representative Matt Gaetz as attorney general

President-elect Donald Trump has selected Rep. Matt Gaetz as his attorney general, putting the embattled Florida Republican in the key post as Trump looks to curb the Justice Department’s independence.

Gaetz, 42, would take the helm of a department that investigated him last year for possible sex trafficking crimes. Ultimately, prosecutors recommended no charges be filed against him after a lengthy investigation.

In a statement on his Truth Social account, Trump called Gaetz a “very gifted and tenacious attorney” and said he “has distinguished himself in Congress through his focus on achieving much-needed reforms at the Department of Justice.”

“There are few issues in America more important than ending the partisan weaponization of our justice system,” Trump added. “Matt will end the armed government, protest our borders, dismantle criminal organizations, and restore Americans’ deeply shattered faith and trust in the Justice Department.”

Gaetz served for several years on the House Judiciary Committee, where he was a fierce critic of the Russia investigation and a staunch supporter of Trump.

He was also the driving force behind the political defenestration of former Republican Chairman Kevin McCarthy last year. McCarthy has not blocked a separate House Ethics Committee investigation into sex trafficking and drug allegations against Gaetz. Gaetz has denied these allegations, noting that the related FBI investigation that began in 2020 concluded without charges. If confirmed, Gaetz would also oversee the FBI.

This is a development story.