Trump’s attorney general has reportedly requested a pardon for sex trafficking

President-elect Donald Trump’s choice for attorney general sent shock waves among Republican lawmakers on Wednesday.

Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) has been tapped as Trump’s attorney general for his second term — a choice that appears to have surprised many in the nation’s capital. Gaetz, who will take charge of the Justice Department if confirmed to the post, faced a year-long sex trafficking investigation filed by the Justice Department, but was ultimately not charged

The Washington Post And CNN reported in 2022 that Gaetz told a former White House aide that he was preemptively seeking a pardon from Trump during the Justice Department’s investigation into whether he had violated federal sex trafficking laws.

More from The Washington Post’s 2022 report:

Johnny McEntee told investigators, according to people familiar with his testimony, that Gaetz told him during a brief meeting “that they are investigating him or that he is under investigation,” without specifying who was investigating Gaetz.

McEntee added that Gaetz told him, “He didn’t do anything wrong, but they’re trying to make his life hell, and you know, if the president could pardon him, that would be great.” Gaetz told McEntee that he had asked White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows for a pardon.

A staunch supporter of Trump, Gaetz has been criticized by members on both sides of the aisle during his time in Congress. Many Republicans in the Senate were shocked to hear the news of Trump’s decision on Wednesday, according to several reports.

He irked fellow GOP members in early 2023 when he introduced the resolution that successfully ousted former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy. McCarthy then helped fund a primary challenge to Gaetz, which included commercials alleging he paid for sex with a 17-year-old, an allegation currently under investigation by the House Ethics Committee. Gaetz has denied all allegations. The Justice Department ended its own sex trafficking investigation without filing charges against him.

Even Trump’s allies in the Senate are keeping their distance from Gaetz.

“We’ll see,” said Senator Ron Johnson of Wisconsin when asked whether he would vote to confirm the congressman.

Senator John Cornyn, a Republican from Texas, suggested that the Senate closely investigate Gaetz, including the House Ethics Committee investigation.

“I’m confident this will make for a popcorn-eating confirmation hearing,” said Republican Sen. Thom Tillis of North Carolina.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.