President-elect Donald Trump has selected Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) to serve as the next U.S. attorney general. Gaetz, a staunch ally of Trump and a prominent conservative, is known for his vocal criticism of what he calls the “weaponization” of the Justice Department.
In his announcement on Truth Social, Trump emphasized that Gaetz would “end Weaponized Government, protect our Borders, dismantle Criminal Organizations, and restore Americans’ badly-shattered Faith and Confidence in the Justice Department.”
Gaetz expressed his willingness to take on the role, saying it would “be an honor to serve” as attorney general. However, his nomination still faces Senate approval, setting up what could be a contentious confirmation process. Gaetz would be taking over an agency that recently concluded a lengthy investigation into him regarding alleged sex crimes, ultimately deciding not to pursue charges.
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The attorney general role will be crucial to Trump’s policy agenda, including his pledges to reform the Justice Department and strengthen his administration’s stance on issues like immigration, reproductive health, and political accountability. Trump has previously voiced a desire to reshape the justice system, aiming to curb what he views as partisan biases and restrictions within it.
Gaetz, who serves on the Select Subcommittee on the Weaponization of the Federal Government, has frequently criticized the Justice Department’s approach under President Biden, calling for broad reforms and, in some cases, advocating for the dismantling of agencies like the DOJ and FBI if they don’t change significantly. At the Conservative Political Action Conference in 2023, he argued for extreme reform, stating, “We either get this government back on our side, or we defund and get rid of, abolish the FBI, the CDC, ATF, DOJ, every last one of them if they do not come to heel.”
Gaetz has also called for significant staffing changes within the DOJ, suggesting that new leadership and personnel from state-level attorneys general offices could help reduce what he sees as entrenched political influences in the federal justice system. CNN
