President-elect Donald Trump nominated Florida Representative Matt Gaetz to be his next attorney general on Wednesday, the biggest bombshell choice yet as Trump moves to quickly staff up his new administration.
"Matt is a deeply gifted and tenacious attorney, trained at the William & Mary College of Law, who has distinguished himself in Congress through his focus on achieving desperately needed reform at the Department of Justice," Trump wrote in a Truth Social post.
"Few issues in America are more important than ending the partisan Weaponization of our Justice System. Matt will end Weaponized Government, protect our Borders, dismantle Criminal Organizations and restore Americans' badly-shattered Faith and Confidence in the Justice Department," Trump added.
Trump went on to praise Gaetz's work on the House Judiciary Committee, writing that the Florida congressman "played a key role in defeating the Russia, Russia, Russia Hoax, and exposing alarming and systemic Government Corruption and Weaponization."
By "Russia Hoax," Trump was referring to the Justice Department's investigation into Russia's interference in the 2016 US election, as well as the nature of any ties between Russian government officials and people associated with the Trump campaign. Among others, Trump's campaign chairman Paul Manafort, deputy campaign chairman Rick Gates, former national security advisor Michael Flynn, and former lawyer Michael Cohen pleaded guilty as part of that sprawling investigation.
Trump often railed against the Russia investigation during his first term, painting it as a politically motivated inquiry aimed at undermining his presidency. Gaetz, for his part, functioned as Trump's main attack dog in Congress at the time, frequently usurping government oversight hearings to air Republican conspiracy theories about the investigation and the partisan leanings of prosecutors who worked on the special counsel Robert Mueller's team.
Trump on Wednesday described Gaetz as a "Champion for the Constitution and the Rule of Law. Matt will root out the systemic corruption at DOJ, and return the Department to its true mission of fighting Crime, and upholding our Democracy and Constitution. We must have Honesty, Integrity, and Transparency at DOJ. Under Matt's leadership, all Americans will be proud of the Department of Justice once again."
Gaetz responded to Trump's announcement, writing on X, "It will be an honor to serve as President Trump's Attorney General!!
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