5 conclusions from Donald Trump’s surprising choice of Matt Gaetz as attorney general

WASHINGTON − President-elect Donald Trump unexpected choice of Representative Matt Gaetz for Attorney General marked a like-minded approach to the overhaul of the Ministry of Justice.

But the choice also led to some of the early criticism of Trump’s Cabinet picks, as senators questioned whether the Florida Republican would be a serious choice to become the nation’s top law enforcement official.

Like Trump, Gaetz has navigated the legal system under the spotlight of a criminal investigation.

Here are five lessons from the surprising announcement:

More: Donald Trump picks fierce Rep. Matt Gaetz to lead the Justice Department as attorney general

Trump chose Gaetz to end the “weaponization” of the Justice Department

Trump and Gaetz both became fierce critics of the Justice Department after they were investigated.

Gaetz, who resigned from Congress after Trump announced his nomination as attorney general, was the subject of a federal investigation into sex trafficking. ended without charges against him, although a once close political ally pleaded guilty.

The The House Ethics Committee is investigating Gaetz and said in June it was expanding its investigation to include additional allegations. The committee was expected to decide on Friday whether to make its report public, but his resignation will effectively end the investigation.

The committee investigated a variety of claims that Gaetz engaged in sexual misconduct and illegal drug use, accepted “inappropriate gifts” and doled out special favors. Gaetz denied the allegations and blamed former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif.

“The lawful, consensual sexual activity of adults is not the business of Congress,” Gaetz wrote in a letter posted to social media in September.

McCarthy has said his historic ouster in 2023 came as Gaetz tried to block a House ethics investigation.

Meanwhile, Special Prosecutor Jack Smith is investigating two charges dropped against Trump. Trump had been charged with election interference and mishandling of classified documents, but Justice Department policy has long prohibited the prosecution of sitting presidents. In either case, Trump will not be tried.

“Matt is a highly gifted and tenacious attorney, trained at William & Mary College of Law, who has distinguished himself in Congress through his focus on achieving much-needed reforms at the Department of Justice,” Trump said this in a message on Truth Social. “There are few issues in America more important than ending the partisan weaponization of our justice system.”

Trump said Gaetz played a key role in “defeating” the investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election. “Matt will root out systemic corruption at DOJ and return the department to its true mission: fighting crime and enforcing our democracy and Constitution,” Trump said.

Some Republican senators were “shocked” by Gaetz’s choice

Some Republican senators, who would be key to Gaetz winning, questioned whether he was a serious choice for the post.

“I don’t think it’s a serious nomination for attorney general,” said Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska. “This wasn’t on my bingo card.”

Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, said she was “shocked” when she learned of Trump’s choice of Gaetz.

“I’m sure many questions will arise during his hearing,” Collins said.

Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., who currently heads the Judiciary Committee, said Gaetz’s selection made clear that Trump “intends to use the Justice Department to retaliate against his political enemies.”

“Representative Matt Gaetz would be a disaster as the next attorney general of the United States,” Durbin said.

But Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., whom Trump picked to be secretary of state, said he expected Gaetz to win confirmation.

“I think he will do that because presidents deserve great respect,” Rubio said.

‘Disaster’: twofold criticism

The reaction outside the government to the announcement was swift, bipartisan and harsh.

Edward Whelan, deputy assistant attorney general during the George W. Bush administration, reversed the choice.

“I can’t imagine a worse choice for attorney general than Matt Gaetz.” Whelan wrote on social media.

Because Gaetz avoided federal charges, Harry Litman, a top Justice Department official during the Clinton administration, said he likely shares Trump’s antipathy for the department.

“On a scale of 1 to 10” Litman wrote on social media“I would call it a disaster.”

Rep. Jim Himes of Connecticut, the top Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, said the attorney general must have strong judgment, moral character and a deep respect for the law, but “Gaetz has none of those.”

“Our next attorney general will be charged with securing the rule of law and our democracy, and Matt Gaetz is not fit for that job,” Himes said.

Alyssa Farah Griffin, a former White House and Pentagon spokesperson in the first Trump administration, said Trump was challenging his critics.

“He’s just trolling America right now,” Farah said in a social media post.

John Bolton, who served as Trump’s national security advisortold NBC’s “Meet the Press NOW” that “this has to be the worst nomination for a Cabinet position in American history.”

“Gaetz is not only totally incompetent for this job, he doesn’t have the character,” Bolton said.

Gaetz has not been a prosecutor

Attorneys general traditionally have experience as federal prosecutors, and Gaetz’s lack of experience in that area could become a point of contention when the Senate holds its confirmation hearing.

Gaetz received his law degree from William & Mary Law School and worked in private practice before becoming a state and federal lawmaker. But top lawyers at the Justice Department and the White House had threatened to quit over Trump’s proposal at the end of his first term to appoint an assistant attorney general with no prosecutorial experience, Jeffrey Clark, as acting attorney general against the end of his first term.

“You’re an environmental lawyer,” Acting Deputy Attorney General Richard Donoghue told Clark during an Oval Office confrontation on January 3, 2021. “How about you go back to your office and we’ll call you if there’s an oil spill.”

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Gaetz was an outspoken critic of DOJ and defender of Trump

From his seat on the Judiciary Committee, the Republican from Florida was an outspoken critic of the department and a staunch defender of Trump.

Gaetz accused Attorney General Merrick Garland of arming the department and called President Joe Biden ‘senile’ during a hearing his handling of secret documentsS.

Gaetz demonstrated his willingness to fight the Washington establishment by opposing McCarthy for chairman almost scuffles with other lawmakers on the House floor during the dispute. McCarthy backed a Republican rival against Gaetz in the Florida primaries this year, but Gaetz won.

Contributions: Sudiksha Kochi

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Trump’s Matt Gaetz shocker: 5 tips