On Gaetz as potential AG
Never a dull moment with Trump, although one might wish for a few.
So, what about Gaetz? Is Trump’s decision to put him up for Attorney General the ultimate troll? Is it even meant to be serious, or some sort of complicated move that is a test of loyalty, or a way to get Gaetz out of the House, or what? I don’t even pretend to know, but I note the furor it has engendered even on the right.
Gaetz is an unconventional choice, to say the least. Most people think he won’t be confirmed in the Senate, and that’s certainly a good possibility, considering the thin GOP majority there and the presence of people like Collins and Murkowski.
Gaetz is nothing if not aggressive; he was one of the main drivers of the ouster of Speaker McCarthy, for example. McCarthy has said this about the nomination:
Asked for his response to Trump’s Cabinet picks so far, McCarthy told Bloomberg Television in an interview, “I think the choices are very good, except one.”
“Look, Gaetz won’t get confirmed,” he continued. “Everybody knows that.”
McCarthy, a loyal Trump ally while serving in the House, was asked why the former president would bother tapping Gaetz if he knew the Florida Republican couldn’t get confirmed.
“You can talk to [the] president, but it’s a good deflection from others, but it also gives …” McCarthy responded, cutting himself off. “I’ll let it stand at that.”
Pressed again for some insight into Trump’s thought process, McCarthy said, “You’d have to ask the president, but Gaetz couldn’t win in a Republican conference, so it doesn’t matter.”
And then there’s Fetterman, who called it a “God-tier kind of trolling just to trigger a meltdown.”
The DOJ had previously subjected Gaetz to a 2-years-long investigation, which was finally closed in 2023 because of witness unreliability [emphasis mine]:
The investigation stemmed from allegations that the congressman had a sexual relationship with a 17-year-old girl, with the DOJ looking into if Gaetz violated sex trafficking laws in paying for her to travel with him, including across state lines.
The probe was part of a larger investigation into Gaetz’s ally and former Florida tax collector Joel Greenberg, who pleaded guilty in 2021 to six federal crimes, including sex trafficking of a minor, identity theft and wire fraud.
Greenberg was sentenced to 11 years in prison in December. He agreed to cooperate with the DOJ’s investigation as part of his plea agreement.
But the investigation into Gaetz hit a roadblock over concerns about the credibility of two witnesses, one of whom was Greenberg. Career attorneys reportedly recommended to the DOJ in September that the department not charge Gaetz based on those witness credibility issues.
Prosecutors were also worried that testimony from the girl with whom Gaetz allegedly had the relationship would not stand up in front of a jury.
In other words, they offered something to Greenberg if he’d implicate Gaetz, and his testimony (and the girl’s) ended up being too shaky to hold up in court. You can draw your own conclusions about Gaetz’s guilt, but I say it’s most likely they tried to frame him. I doubt there’s much love lost between Gaetz and the DOJ which, as AG, he would be in the position of running.
There’s also a House investigation:
The House Ethics Committee was investigating whether he engaged in sexual misconduct and illicit drug use, among other allegations. With Gaetz’s resignation from the lower chamber, the panel no longer has jurisdiction but could still vote to release the report.
Yes, Gaetz resigned from the House yesterday, ostensibly to start the ball rolling on DeSantis appointing his replacement so that the House majority is protected. This may or may not have been the reason.
My gut feeling is that this is certainly not a simple matter, and that both Trump and Gaetz may be playing a more complicated game. I think it presents Senate GOP members with a real dilemma, as well.
But let’s for a moment say that Gaetz is confirmed as AG. I think it would be a scorched earth policy at the DOJ, which is richly deserved for the agency’s behavior under Garland. It’s not as though the DOJ has any reputation to defend.
It will be a sh*t show to confirm him. There are other loyal Republicans who will get the job done without wasting the political capital. Trump needs to use the first few months to shove through legislation rather than fighting the drama this pick will generate. Withdraw him now and move on.
“But let’s for a moment say that Gaetz is confirmed as AG. I think it would be a scorched earth policy at the DOJ, which is richly deserved for the agency’s behavior under Garland. It’s not as though the DOJ has any reputation to defend.”
Agreed, and as you say, richly deserved. Gaetz would not have been on my list for AG, but I can live with him, and he may even end up just the person for the job. And, he’s the President-elect’s pick. Let President Trump have the AG he wants. When I note the Reps on the list who voted yea for Merrick Garland I say that they’ve barely an ethical leg to stand on regarding anyone President Trump nominates.
The DOJ (like my own State Department) needs a flame thrower taken to it, and maybe Gaetz is an enlightened choice.
Every day the corruption in DC becomes more apparent.
Glen Greenwald lays out the case why the over the top resistance to Gaetz. I suggest everyone who wonders why the opposition is so fierce so quickly watch this analysis.
Gaetz is as qualified for the position of AG as Rubio is for SoS. Conservatives should support Gaetz.
The Washington establishment, including some Republicans, are trying to set the boundaries for how much Trump will be allowed to effect real change in the way Washington works.
Greenwald also talks about the sex trafficking allegations.
Matt Gaetz Picked As Trump AG: Establishment Dems & GOP OUTRAGED
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G-KX3qcbRBk
A good cop/bad cop play?
With Gaetz as the bad cop and his replacement as the good cop.
huxley:
That’s precisely what I’ve been thinking.
There’s any number of reasons that could be behind the Gaetz announcement. As an opening move in a negotiation, for example. Or to provoke the Swamp-lovers into declaring themselves (mission accomplished there). Or maybe its because it’s what Trump really wants.
But Trump is considerably more popular with the electorate than the GOP is. In 2017 the Senate GOP tanked his nominees, budgets, and legislative priorities. I think they thought Trump’s Presidency was a fluke they could ignore. It isn’t, and I don’t think the people who gave the GOP its current majorities are going to appreciate their little games this time around.
DeSantis can only fill Senatorial vacancies with an appointment. Gaetz is a Representative. Vacancies are filled by special elections. Gaetz resigned early enough that the special election can be held before the next congress gets sworn in.
I think Trump’s picks have been outstanding up to this point. And now with Gabbard and Goetz, we get two “in your face” picks. And no two groups deserve it more than the intelligence community and DOJ. Trump surely deserves to get a little personal against those entities based upon what they’ve done to him. And, incidentally it will be great for the entire country to see a swarm of IC and DOJ people get fired.
I’ve seen a theory that Gaetz is sacrificial. The Senate can confirm all Trump’s other picks, but balking at Gaetz gives them the ability to say “see, we stood up to Trump”
Personally, I think Massey was on to something.
https://www.mediaite.com/politics/suck-it-up-house-republican-says-matt-gaetz-will-be-ag-even-without-senate-confirmation/
“Recess Appointment – He’s the Attorney General…Suck it up”
Or course Massey may have just been trolling the media that was harassing him too, so who knows what the plan is.
Someone else I read noted that Trump is naming cabinet members to head departments that have screwed them over in some way in the past (example Gabbard being named Director of National Intelligence after being placed on a terrorist watch list). I think that observation has some merit and would be a great way to ensure that the new “secretary of xxx” isn’t beholden to the status quo.
Grandpagrumble: “And, incidentally it will be great for the entire country to see a swarm of IC and DOJ people get fired.”
Firing is the least of it. I’d like to see a bunch of them strung up from lampposts. Literally.
It’s deserved, and also to “encourage” the others.
The underage sex allegations against Gaetz are a lightning rod to say the least. But don’t forget that hopeless soccer dad Brett Kavanaugh was falsely portrayed as a molester and pimp. Almost as bad a predator as Ted Kennedy and Bill Clinton!
It might be like Mao’s ” Let a hundred flowers bloom” campaign. Find out who’s your enemy, a very old tactic.
I expect the Dems to oppose them all, like the Rep did – not. If can vote for Garland, then you can vote for Gaetz. Trump won, Rep idjits should remember that.
Someone wrote that Trump may be threatening the Senate to confirm Gaetz, or else Trump will ask DeSantis to fill Rubio’s chair with Gaetz.
Gaetz is hard to take seriously. He doesn’t quite seem fully adult.
This is one of the reason why Matt Gaetz should be the next AG, and why the political establishment will do anything to stop him.
He’s a fighter. Here he is in 2022 raising questions about J6.
Rep. Matt Gaetz Says January 6th Was Not an Insurrection
https://www.c-span.org/video/?c4994571/rep-matt-gaetz-january-6th-insurrection
@Dax:Trump will ask DeSantis to fill Rubio’s chair with Gaetz.
As much fun as that would be, I’m not sure the timing works out, even if DeSantis and Trump are able to work that well together.
Gaetz isn’t going away even if he doesn’t get confirmed. DeSantis has Rubio’s Senate Seat to fill and Gaetz didn’t resign from his Congressional Seat on the whim of becoming AG. He’s getting a Promotion anyway you look at it
Gaetz may be the “bad cop” to get all the US District attorneys to quit before January as well as some of the staff at DOJ. Once they are gone, someone else can come in to finish the cleanup and reorganization.
Trump can always give Gaetz a position at the White House as the reward.
I just saw this on Trump’s truth social …. the purge of the US Attorneys begins… he is not even waiting for resignations.
“I am pleased to announce that Jay Clayton, of New York, the Chairman of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission during my first term, where he did an incredible job, is hereby nominated to be the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York. ”
https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/113483513301208163
Don’t forget Clinton fired all US attorney’s in 1993. That has become the norm (or firing all the attorney’s the previous administration appointed.
Regarding sacrificial candidate / good cop – bad cop:
I wonder to what extent Matt Gaetz thinks that Matt Gaetz will be the next Attorney General — i.e., to what extent is Matt Gaetz in on the 4-D chess maneuvering?
Meanwhile, I’m certainly enjoying the other side’s outrage. Runnin’ outta popcorn . . .
Matt Gaetz — why is he so hated? Many freely cast aspersions, yet very few offer up explanations. To me, it’s very much like Trump is Hitler propaganda. A smear and a lie that’s become an article of perverted faith.
This hatred has stumped me for years. But based upon my own research (eg, SEE LINKS at Conservapedia and Wikipedia), I conclude that it is no more than animus fuelled through guilt by association.
Gaetz may be the strongest voice in support of Trump — SMEAR HIM! When young, he had a brush with a DUI and an anti-Semite through politics. SMEAR HIM! He’s also been a steadfast critic of the military-industrial complex, as well as opponent of DOJ abuse of justice and the weaponization of law. SMEAR! SMEAR!
As an accurately self-described “libertarian populist,” he’s more of a political lighting rod than Senator Rand Paul of Kentucky, but not much different than (former) long-time Houston Congressman Ron Paul.
Even here, we find Abraxas in demure (above): “Gaetz is hard to take seriously. He doesn’t quite seem fully adult.”
Let me directly puncture your assessment. He has been married a few years. That’s undeniably an adult responsibility. And he’s been re-elected several times by wide margins. Thus, I conclude that most of his constituents would disagree with Abraxas that he’s not “fully adult” — a label much more fitting the too many far Leftists known as “The Squad.”
I share our host’s opinion that in the DOJ investigation of Gaetz and underage sex, it is “most likely they tried to frame him.” And unprosecuted Brandon’s moral turpitude probably worse.
A State of Florida lawmaker and former official, who is a Democrat, offers high praise for his former colleague:
“Florida Rep. Jared Moskowitz, a Democrat, said he knows Gaetz well and that he played an important role in getting him confirmed as the emergency management director in Florida in 2019 [which is among the very most important jobs in that large state].
Moskowitz says that Gaetz was “extremely loyal” and “extremely competent.”
“’Trump was not shy about what he wanted to do in this country,’ Moskowitz told CNN. “’In Matt Gaetz [President Trump] does not only get someone who is fiercely loyal, but fiercely competent. Matt Gaetz knows exactly what to do in the attorney general’s office and he will turn that into the most powerful attorney general in American history.’”
https://justthenews.com/government/congress/matt-gaetz-attorney-general-gets-unexpected-support-florida-democrat
I think aspersions resting on guilt by association are un-American. Perhaps Abraxas will correct me?
“Firing is the least of it. I’d like to see a bunch of them strung up from lampposts. Literally.” Paul Nachman
There’s something to be said for the edification elicited when heads are left on pikes until all that remains are the skulls.
Gaetz has to be aware of how unlikely Senate confirmation will be and, assuming Gaetz to be innocent, he would not have given up his House seat without sincere assurances by Trump that, if unconfirmed he will still receive an appropriate position within the Trump administration. Of course, if Trump gets his recess appointments, Gaetz will be the AG. If not, Gaetz will one way or another remain on the national stage. Regardless of any personal flaws, this man fights.
M J R – Fascinating question. And as to whether Gaetz demanded another position, I think it depends on how damaging the Ethic Committee report actually is.