{"id":2371860,"date":"2024-11-21T17:25:01","date_gmt":"2024-11-21T22:25:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/trump-goes-back-to-drawing-board-for-attorney-general-after-gaetz-withdrawal-washington-examiner\/"},"modified":"2024-11-21T17:26:31","modified_gmt":"2024-11-21T22:26:31","slug":"trump-goes-back-to-drawing-board-for-attorney-general-after-gaetz-withdrawal-washington-examiner","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/trump-goes-back-to-drawing-board-for-attorney-general-after-gaetz-withdrawal-washington-examiner\/","title":{"rendered":"Trump goes back to drawing board for attorney general after Gaetz withdrawal &#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\">30<\/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%2Ftrump-goes-back-to-drawing-board-for-attorney-general-after-gaetz-withdrawal-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=2371860&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>President-elect\u200c Donald\u2063 Trump is reevaluating candidates for \u200bthe position of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/donald-trump-rejects-idea-that-he-didnt-drain-the-swamp-in-first-term\/\" title=\"Trump denies not &#039;draining the swamp&#039; in first term.\">attorney\u2064 general<\/a> \u2063following the withdrawal of former Rep. Matt Gaetz, who was \u2064initially\u200d considered his top choice. Prior \u2064to Gaetz, Trump&#8217;s\u2064 shortlist had included several names, but he had \u2063already \u200dappointed others, such\u2062 as John Ratcliffe and \u2064Matt Whitaker, \u200cto different roles within his administration. Among \u2063those still in\u200b contention is \u200cMissouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey, \u2063but \u2062reports suggest \u2064he did not meet\u2063 Trump&#8217;s \u200bcriteria.\u200d Meanwhile, strong support is\u200b forming for Texas Attorney General \u200bKen Paxton and conservative attorney Mark Paoletta \u2064within Trump\u2019s base.<\/p>\n<p>Trump is looking for an attorney general who aligns closely \u2062with\u200d his agenda, particularly in \u200dlight of\u2062 his\u200c dissatisfaction with \u2062former\u2062 attorneys general Jeff Sessions and Bill Barr, whom he\u2063 believes \u2064fell short during critical investigations. He aims for\u2063 a \u200ccommitment to aggressive policies, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/ironic-uk-refuses-to-deport-taliban-torturer-to-afghanistan-over-fears-he-would-be-tortured\/\" title=\"Ironic... UK Refuses to Deport Taliban Torturer to Afghanistan Over Fears He Would be Tortured\">including deportations<\/a> and addressing \u2062what\u2063 he perceives as government overreach by prosecutors. Gaetz, \u2063despite lacking prosecutorial experience\u2064 and \u2064facing \u200dinvestigations related \u2063to allegations of misconduct, was\u2062 seen as\u2063 driven and aligned with Trump&#8217;s\u2064 vision\u2062 for the Justice\u200b Department. However, his candidacy sparked surprise given the\u2062 controversy \u200dsurrounding him.  <\/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\">Trump goes back to drawing board for attorney general after Gaetz withdrawal<\/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_1889389\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p>President-elect <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/donald-trump\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"Donald Trump\">Donald Trump<\/a> is once again weighing contenders for attorney general after former Rep. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/matt-gaetz\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"Donald Trump\">Matt Gaetz<\/a>, his top choice, announced Thursday that he was removing himself from consideration.<\/p>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>Prior to nominating Gaetz, Trump&rsquo;s short list of attorney general prospects had <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/3223230\/trump-potential-picks-lead-justice-department\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">included<\/a> several others, but he tapped at least two of them, John Ratcliffe and Matt Whitaker, for different roles in his administration.<\/p>\n<p>As for other possibilities, Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey, a combat veteran and outspoken Trump supporter, was in the running, but CNN reported that Bailey did not satisfy Trump&rsquo;s qualifications. Bailey&rsquo;s spokesperson has not responded to requests for comment.<\/p>\n<p>Meanwhile, factions of Trump&rsquo;s base have been rallying behind Ken Paxton of Texas, another state attorney general and a top ally of Trump&rsquo;s during his legal fights over the 2020 election results, and prominent conservative attorney Mark Paoletta.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What qualities is Trump looking for?<\/h2>\n<p>Trump has set lofty expectations for his attorney general after his last two, Jeff Sessions and Bill Barr, fell out of favor with him over the Trump-Russia collusion investigation and the former <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/trump-taking-regeneron-drug-remdesivir-therapy-for-coronavirus-diagnosis-ex-wh-doctor-explains\/\" title=\"Trump taking Regeneron drug, Remdesivir therapy for coronavirus diagnosis: ex-WH doctor explains\">president&#038;rsquo<\/a>;s false claims about the 2020 election, respectively.<\/p>\n<p>In his vision for his next Justice Department, Trump has vowed to seek retribution against prosecutors, including special counsel Jack Smith, who led criminal cases against him. The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/mike-kelly-same-people-criticizing-trump-peddled-russia-collusion-hoax\/\" title=\"Mike Kelly: Same People Criticizing Trump Peddled Russia Collusion Hoax\">president-elect<\/a> also campaigned on promises that he would deport millions of immigrants who entered the country illegally; fight diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives; and carry out a <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\">large-scale pardon operation<\/a> for Jan. 6, 2021, defendants.<\/p>\n<p>These efforts will require a staunch Trump loyalist as attorney general and significant DOJ manpower, especially on the deportation front, considering that liberal governors have denounced the planned action and said they would not comply with it.<\/p>\n<p>According to Trump, Gaetz, a firebrand and occasional source of controversy in the House, was &ldquo;tenacious&rdquo; and best suited to &ldquo;end Weaponized Government, protect our Borders, dismantle Criminal Organizations and restore Americans&rsquo; badly-shattered Faith and Confidence in the Justice Department.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Former President Donald Trump, center, walks by Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL), left, outside the courtroom after the day&rsquo;s proceedings in his trial on Thursday, May 16, 2024, in New York. Trump&rsquo;s adviser Boris Epshteyn and attorney Emil Bove, right, follow behind him. (Mike&nbsp;Segar\/Pool Photo via AP)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Still, Trump&rsquo;s move to nominate him had come as a shock in Washington because Gaetz had no prosecutorial experience, had positioned himself as an outlier even among his Republican colleagues, and had been caught up in DOJ and House Ethics Committee investigations over sex trafficking allegations. Gaetz has denied all wrongdoing, but the inquiries dominated headlines in the wake of the Florida Republican&rsquo;s nomination, leading to a media whirlwind that <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/3237670\/matt-gaetz-withdraws-attorney-general-nomination\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">ended<\/a> with Gaetz withdrawing his name to prevent what he described as further &ldquo;distraction.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Could a senator become attorney general?<\/h2>\n<p>As senators reacted to the news of Gaetz&rsquo;s withdrawal, a couple floated two of their Republican colleagues with extensive legal backgrounds: Sens. Ted Cruz (R-TX) and Mike Lee (R-UT).<\/p>\n<p>Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX) smiled as he told reporters that &ldquo;somebody suggested that maybe Ted Cruz should be the next attorney general.&rdquo; Cornyn added that Cruz was an &ldquo;outstanding lawyer.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p><strong><a href=\"http:\/\/washingtonexaminer.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Meanwhile, Sen. Mike Rounds (R-SD) floated Lee&rsquo;s name. Lee worked as a lawyer for more than a decade, clerking for Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito and working in private practice.<\/p>\n<p>Lee&rsquo;s and Cruz&rsquo;s offices did not respond to questions about the possibility of their nominations.<\/p>\n<p><em>Ramsey Touchberry contributed to this report.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p> <script data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/cdn-cgi\/scripts\/5c5dd728\/cloudflare-static\/email-decode.min.js\"><\/script><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_1889389\",\"obj\":{\"id\":\"27789\",\"width\":\"1280\",\"height\":\"720\",\"stickyDirection\":\"below\",\"video\":\"1889389\"}});<\/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>Trump reevaluates attorney general candidates after Gaetz drops out<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":49,"featured_media":2371861,"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\/AP24137760751171.webp","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[32116,3624,5894,3634,32076],"class_list":["post-2371860","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-attorney-general","tag-gaetz","tag-politics","tag-trump","tag-washington-examiner"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/AP24137760751171.webp","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2371860","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\/49"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2371860"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2371860\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2371864,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2371860\/revisions\/2371864"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2371861"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2371860"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2371860"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2371860"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}