House lawmakers, who had been the focus of an Ethics Committee inquiry into the Florida congressman, were taken aback by Gaetz’s nomination. President-elect Trump surprised many, including fellow House Republicans, by announcing Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., as his choice for attorney general on Wednesday.
When Trump takes the oath of office for his second term in January, Gaetz, if confirmed, will lead the Justice Department.
In his first post on Truth Social, Trump declared that Gaetz “has distinguished himself in Congress through his focus on achieving desperately needed reform at the Department of Justice.”
On the social networking platform X, Gaetz announced the nomination and said, “It will be an honor to serve as President Trump’s Attorney General!”
According to Trump’s post on Truth Social, Gaetz “played a key role” in “defeating the Russia, Russia Hoax,” exposing what he called “alarming and systemic Government Corruption and Weaponization.” Trump also lauded Gaetz for his expertise on the House Judiciary Committee.
“He is a Champion for the Constitution and the Rule of Law,” he stated.
Gaetz took the Florida bar test in 2008 after graduating from William & Mary College of Law.
Lawmakers in the House were somewhat taken aback by the news of his appointment.
As recently as September, the House Ethics Committee subpoenaed Gaetz, a longstanding Trump friend, as part of an ongoing investigation into allegations of sexual misconduct with a child. In reply, Gaetz informed the panel that he would “no longer voluntarily participate” in their investigation.
He said in the letter, which was circulated on social media, “I explicitly reserve all of my rights pursuant to House Rules and the U.S. Constitution,”
Although it would make it more challenging, the inquiry is unlikely to stop Gaetz’s road to confirmation in the Senate, which is controlled by Republicans.
As soon as Gaetz departs the House, the House Ethics Committee’s probe will come to an end, Rep. Michael Guest, R-Miss., told Fox News Digital.
“Once a member is no longer a member of Congress, then Ethics has no jurisdiction,” he stated.
Guest continued: “Look, I have great trust in President Trump and those people that he will surround himself with and put in his cabinet, so I’m sure that Trump and his transition team have taken into consideration all the good and bad surrounding every one of the candidates that they’re looking at appointing, and so I do not question President Trump’s appointment at all.”
The House Ethics Committee, however, will not accelerate its inquiry in response to Gaetz’s nomination, according to Guest. He said, “No, we’re not going to do anything to expedite this,” to Fox News.
Former Justice Department staff, current U.S. senators, and at least one senior White House aide during Trump’s first term were early candidates for the position.
“He’s going to want someone who he knows, likes, and trusts,” Matt Whitaker, the former acting attorney general, stated in interviews with Fox News last week. “He’s going to want someone who was there from the beginning.”
