United States President-elect Donald Trump’s Wednesday nomination of Republican lawmaker Matt Gaetz for attorney general has generated a stir on both sides of the political aisle.
The role doubles as the country’s top prosecutor and the head of the Department of Justice. As attorney general, Gaetz would also oversee agencies like the Federal Bureau of Intelligence (FBI).
Trump announced the nomination in a post on his Truth Social platform on Wednesday. He cited Gaetz’s background as a lawyer and member of the House Judiciary Committee.
The president-elect, who has verbally attacked the Justice Department for bringing two federal cases against him, said Gaetz would root out “systemic corruption” in the department and return it “to its true mission of fighting crime and upholding our democracy and constitution”.
Gaetz, who has faced his own string of investigations for alleged improper and illegal behaviour, has caused waves during his time in the House and generated some animosity among his congressional colleagues, even within his own party. As a result, there have been more than a few raised eyebrows at his nomination, with some Republicans saying this is not a “serious” move.
Gaetz will have to pass a Senate confirmation hearing in the upcoming Congress before he can be confirmed as attorney general, a date for which has yet to be set.
Republicans will have a 53-seat majority in the upcoming formation but a split in opinions about Gaetz could hobble his chances – just four “no” votes from Republicans, along with united Democrat opposition, would result in the nomination being rejected.
Here’s what we know about Gaetz and why he is such a controversial choice for attorney general in the US:
Gaetz, 42, was until this week a member of the US House of Representatives representing Florida.
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