{"id":2368684,"date":"2024-11-13T19:16:04","date_gmt":"2024-11-14T00:16:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/washington-reacts-after-trump-taps-gaetz-for-attorney-general-washington-examiner\/"},"modified":"2024-11-13T19:17:43","modified_gmt":"2024-11-14T00:17:43","slug":"washington-reacts-after-trump-taps-gaetz-for-attorney-general-washington-examiner","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/washington-reacts-after-trump-taps-gaetz-for-attorney-general-washington-examiner\/","title":{"rendered":"Washington reacts after Trump taps Gaetz for attorney general &#8211; Washington Examiner"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"float:left\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">24<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fwashington-reacts-after-trump-taps-gaetz-for-attorney-general-washington-examiner%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2368684&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>Reactions in Washington were swift and varied following President-elect Donald Trump&#8217;s\u200d nomination of Rep. Matt Gaetz\u200d (R-FL) for <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/breaking-ag-barr-authorizes-federal-prosecutors-to-pursue-substantial-allegations-of-voting-irregularities-before-2020-election-is-certified\/\" title=\"BREAKING: AG Barr Authorizes Federal Prosecutors to Pursue &quot;Substantial Allegations&quot; of Voting Irregularities Before 2020 Election is Certified\">attorney general<\/a>, a decision \u2063that left many in political circles\u2062 astonished. Gaetz&#8217;s selection\u200d is\u200b notable, particularly as he has previously called for the Justice\u2062 Department to be dismantled and has been the subject of investigations by that\u2063 same department. Many stakeholders, including some Republicans, expressed skepticism about his viability for Senate confirmation. Senator Susan Collins (R-ME) openly stated her shock and announced her\u200c opposition, while others mirrored this sentiment, questioning Gaetz&#8217;s suitability for the position.<\/p>\n<p>Conversely, \u2064some members of the GOP defended Trump\u2019s\u2063 choice,\u2063 highlighting Gaetz&#8217;s fighting spirit and advocating for his \u200cconfirmation. While many Democrats quickly criticized the choice,\u200b with Senator \u2064John\u2063 Fetterman (D-PA) sarcastically\u2064 expressing that Gaetz&#8217;s nomination was less appealing compared \u200dto other qualified candidates,\u200b others on \u200cthe right saw it as an\u2064 opportunity\u200c for Gaetz to reform the agency \u200cthat previously investigated him. \u2063the nomination\u2064 has created \u2063a mix of outcry, celebration, and uncertainty within political circles, setting up a contentious \u2064confirmation process ahead.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">Washington reacts after Trump taps Gaetz for attorney general: &lsquo;Shocked&rsquo;<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_1734990\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p>Reactions came flooding in from <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/washington-dc\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">Washington<\/a> after President-elect <a href=\"http:\/\/washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/donald-trump\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">Donald Trump<\/a> stunned the political establishment by nominating Rep. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/matt-gaetz\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">Matt Gaetz<\/a> (R-FL) for attorney general.<\/p>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>Gaetz is the latest in a string of close allies Trump has <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/3229178\/trump-nominates-matt-gaetz-as-attorney-general\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">tapped<\/a> to join his second administration. As someone who has called for the Justice Department to be abolished and has been investigated by the agency, the possibility he might lead the DOJ garnered backlash, celebration, and pure shock.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Source in room where House Republicans are waiting to <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\">start leadership elections tells<\/a> me there were AUDIBLE GASP when Rep. MATT GAETZ was announced as President-elect Trump&rsquo;s pick for Attorney General,&rdquo; one <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/cnn-skips-fact-checking-to-run-with-nurses-unverified-story-about-covid-patients-last-dying-words\/\" title=\"CNN Skips Fact-Checking To Run With Nurse&#039;s Unverified Story About COVID Patients &#039;Last Dying Words&#039;\">reporter wrote<\/a> in a <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/emilybrooksnews\/status\/1856798707070415138\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">post<\/a> on X.<\/p>\n<p>With some members of his own party already voicing opposition to his nomination, Gaetz could face a shaky path to Senate confirmation.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) departs after speaking during the Conservative Political Action Conference on Feb. 23, 2024, at the National Harbor, in Oxon Hill, Maryland. (AP Photo\/Alex Brandon)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME), who said she was &ldquo;shocked&rdquo; by the nomination, announced she would not support Gaetz in the upper chamber, while Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX) also <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/sn_handler\/status\/1856797433575215299\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">offered<\/a> a less-than-enthusiastic reaction<sub>, <\/sub>per reports from<a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/maxpcohen\/status\/1856804002052071566\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\"><em>  Punchbowl News<\/em><\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Rep. Max Miller&nbsp;(R-OH) <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/juliegraceb\/status\/1856804208470868442\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">told<\/a> reporters that Gaetz &ldquo;has a better shot at having dinner with Queen Elizabeth II [who is dead] than being confirmed by the Senate.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">News: Susan Collins tells me she is not on board with Gaetz as AG. <\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;I was shocked at the nomination&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;This is why the Senate&#8217;s advise and consent process is so important. I&#8217;m sure that there will be many, many questions raised at Mr Gaetz&rsquo;s hearing&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Max Cohen (@maxpcohen) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/maxpcohen\/status\/1856804002052071566?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">November 13, 2024<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/cdn-cgi\/scripts\/5c5dd728\/cloudflare-static\/email-decode.min.js\"><\/script><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script> <\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<p>Sen. John Fetterman (D-PA), who was quick to praise Trump&rsquo;s decision to nominate Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) for secretary of state, was just as fast to criticize the Gaetz pick.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;There have been serious, qualified individuals nominated to posts, like Rubio or Stefanik. Eric Schmitt would be a solid choice for AG,&rdquo; Fetterman <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/SenFettermanPA\/status\/1856818466663039365\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">said<\/a> on X. &ldquo;But Dem opinions on Gaetz aren&rsquo;t that interesting. The good ones will come from my GOP colleagues to justify a vote for that jerkoff.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Others took to the platform to note the irony that Gaetz would be leading the agency that conducted a yearslong investigation into him based on underage sex trafficking allegations.<\/p>\n<p>The DOJ <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/672445\/doj-decides-not-to-charge-matt-gaetz-in-sex-trafficking-investigation\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">closed<\/a> the investigation in February after concluding it had not found enough evidence to charge Gaetz with any crimes.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;The FBI and DOJ previously tried to frame Matt Gaetz with the help of a con artist who was trying to extort Gaetz&rsquo;s family out of tens of millions of dollars,&rdquo;&nbsp;right-leaning media pundit Sean Davis <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/seanmdav\/status\/1856799295845888323\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">wrote<\/a>. &ldquo;I can&rsquo;t think of a more perfect choice to tear the most corrupt agency on earth down to the studs.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Another Trump ally <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/RyanAFournier\/status\/1856798270166651092\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">noted<\/a>, &ldquo;It&rsquo;s hilarious because the DOJ tried to persecute him and now he&rsquo;s going to run it,&rdquo; while conservative activist Charlie Kirk claimed that &ldquo;the DOJ almost ruined Matt Gaetz&rsquo;s life over fake accusations.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Now he will fix it to make sure that never happens again,&rdquo; Kirk <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/charliekirk11\/status\/1856802078112584052\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">said<\/a>.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">The DOJ almost ruined Matt Gaetz&rsquo;s life over fake accusations.<\/p>\n<p>Now he will fix it to make sure that never happens again.<\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Charlie Kirk (@charliekirk11) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/charliekirk11\/status\/1856802078112584052?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">November 13, 2024<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script> <\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<p>The confusion and frustration on Capitol Hill were not unanimous. Some Republican lawmakers heaped praise on Gaetz, or at least said they trusted Trump&rsquo;s decision-making.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Very happy for my friend Matt Gaetz,&rdquo; Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-FL)&nbsp;said. &ldquo;He is a fighter and that is exactly what we need!&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Rubio also praised Gaetz and batted away concerns about him getting confirmed.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;I&rsquo;ve known Matt for a very long time, I think he&rsquo;d do a great job,&rdquo; Rubio <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/SamanthaJoRoth\/status\/1856810507740864598\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">told<\/a> reporters. &ldquo;The president deserves great deference as a president with a mandate, and he has a right to surround himself with people he trusts.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/washingtonexaminer.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong><\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Rep. Andy Ogles (R-TN) called Gaetz &ldquo;a brilliant mind who will pursue and restore justice for all and deweaponize a woke and out-of<a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/bob-menendez-may-blame-bribery-charges-on-his-wife-documents-show\/\" title=\"Documents reveal that Bob Menendez may attribute bribery charges to his wife\">-control justice system<\/a>,&rdquo; in comments to the <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/cami_mondeaux\/status\/1856805497904447628\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\"><em>Washington Examiner<\/em><\/a>.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Some on the right flank of the House GOP are, on the other hand, excited for Gaetz.<\/p>\n<p>Andy Ogles tells me: &ldquo;Matt Gaetz is a brilliant mind who will pursue and restore justice for all and de-weaponize a woke and out of control justice system.  <br \/>I congratulate my friend Matt Gaetz.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Cami Mondeaux (@cami_mondeaux) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/cami_mondeaux\/status\/1856805497904447628?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">November 13, 2024<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script> <\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<p>&ldquo;There are few people I trust more to take on the deep state,&rdquo; Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/KenPaxtonTX\/status\/1856805326864949744\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">added<\/a> after describing Gaetz as &ldquo;a stalwart defender of liberty.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p> <script>!function(){var g=window;g.googletag=g.googletag||{},g.googletag.cmd=g.googletag.cmd||[],g.googletag.cmd.push(function(){g.googletag.pubads().setTargeting(\"has-featured-video\",\"true\")})}();<\/script><script>var _bp=_bp||[];_bp.push({\"div\":\"Brid_1734990\",\"obj\":{\"id\":\"27789\",\"width\":\"1280\",\"height\":\"720\",\"stickyDirection\":\"below\",\"video\":\"1734990\"}});<\/script><script defer src=\"https:\/\/services.brid.tv\/player\/build\/brid.min.js\"><\/script><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Washington reacts to Trump&#8217;s Gaetz AG nomination: &#8216;Shocked<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3142,"featured_media":2368685,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/MG.-.webp","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[32116,3624,5894,3634,4086],"class_list":["post-2368684","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-attorney-general","tag-gaetz","tag-politics","tag-trump","tag-washington"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/MG.-.webp","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2368684","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3142"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2368684"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2368684\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2368688,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2368684\/revisions\/2368688"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2368685"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2368684"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2368684"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2368684"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}