Gaetz’s nomination is drawing opposition from a Christian conservative group

A Christian conservative legal group and a sexual exploitation watchdog are among many speaking out against President-elect Donald Trump’s choice of Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., to serve as attorney general, citing allegations of sexual misconduct.

Trump announced Wednesday his intention to nominate Gaetz, a staunch ally who represents Florida’s 1st congressional district in the United States House of Representatives, as attorney general.

The selection of Gaetz, known for orchestrating the impeachment of then-House Speaker Kevin McCarthy of California last year, has drawn backlash from many, including some conservatives and nonpartisan groups.

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The nonpartisan National Center for Sexual Exploitation released a notice statement On Thursday, the U.S. Senate will be called on to reject Gaetz’s nomination unless he is acquitted of charges of sex trafficking of minors and prostitution.

“We urge the Senate not to confirm former Representative Matt Gaetz as U.S. Attorney General while serious, credible allegations of involvement in minor sex trafficking and prostitution remain,” said NCOSE CEO Dawn Hawkins . “As the nation’s top law enforcement official, he would be responsible for enforcing our nation’s laws prohibiting sex trafficking, child sexual abuse material, prostitution and obscenity.”

Hawkins emphasized that “the victims and survivors we serve deserve no less,” asserting that “the people of this country deserve assurance that their leaders are committed to justice without exception.”

She emphasized that “Gaetz’s resignation from Congress should not prevent the House Committee on Ethics from releasing its report, which is relevant to his potential qualifications as U.S. Attorney General.”

“If the House does not want to release the report, we call on the Senate to conduct a full investigation before moving forward,” she added. “His candidacy for this position cannot be fully vetted without a full and transparent investigation.”

Liberty Counsel, a Christian conservative legal group, has spoken out on the matter similar caveats about Trump’s nomination of Gaetz.

“The appointment of Matt Gaetz as attorney general is shocking and disappointing to those who have followed this man and the lurid scandals and serious allegations of sex parties and drugs during his tenure in the United States Congress,” Liberty Counsel President Mat Staver said in a statement. declaration. .

“Gaetz’s resignation immediately after his name surfaced as attorney general is inexplicable, except for the fact that this resignation now ends the US House of Representatives Ethics investigation,” he claimed. “It is clear that Gaetz does not want America to know the outcome of the ethics investigation. Matt Gaetz has neither the experience nor the moral character to serve as the top law enforcement officer of the United States of America. Gaetz should do that by President Trump and all his colleagues. Doing America a favor and leaving his name out of the picture.”

Liberty Counsel expressed concern about the positions Gaetz has taken during his tenure as a state and federal lawmaker, particularly his work to lift Florida’s ban on adoption by same-sex couples.

The group expressed disgust that Gaetz told “jokes” that it denounced as “laced with sexual innuendos” to an audience of conservative leaders, including conservative Christians.

While Gaetz resigned Speaking from the U.S. House of Representatives this week, in anticipation of becoming the next attorney general, the lawmaker’s future at the helm of the Justice Department depends on confirmation by the U.S. Senate.

Although Republicans are expected to hold 53 Senate seats in the upcoming 119th Congress, several members of Gaetz’s own party have spoken out against his nomination, leaving his confirmation in doubt in light of the unanimous opposition expected from Senate Democrats . More than half of Senate Republicans said this NBC News they do not believe Gaetz will be confirmed and want to know more about the allegations against him.

The House of Representatives Ethics Committee has ended its investigation into Gaetz in a statement published in June, explaining that in April 2021 it had “opened an investigation into allegations that Rep. Matt Gaetz may have engaged in sexual misconduct and/or illegal drug use, shared inappropriate images or videos on the House floor, and had misused state identification information, converted campaign funds for personal use, and/or accepted bribes, improper gratuities, or impermissible gifts,” in violation of House rules.

The panel alleged that “Gaetz has categorically denied all allegations before the committee” and that “the committee has spoken to more than a dozen witnesses, issued 25 subpoenas and reviewed thousands of pages of documents in this case.”

While the committee found that allegations that Gaetz “engaged in sexual misconduct and illegal drug use, accepted inappropriate gifts, granted special privileges and favors to individuals with whom he had a personal relationship, and attempted to obstruct government investigations into his conduct” investigation deserved, it did not reach the same conclusion with regard to the other allegations.

The New York Times reported in March 2021 that the DOJ was investigating whether Gaetz had a sexual relationship with a 17-year-old girl and whether he transported her across state lines to engage in the activity in violation of federal sex trafficking laws.

In February 2023, the DOJ announced that they would not file charges against Gaetz because they were reportedly unable to present a strong enough case against the congressman.