By Daily Mail (U.S.) | Created at 2024-11-14 04:58:17 | Updated at 2024-11-22 15:22:20
1 week ago
Jake Tapper was absolutely dumbfounded beginning his show Wednesday after Donald Trump nominated Florida Congressman Matt Gaetz to be Attorney General.
Trump named the controversial Florida Congressman as his nominee in a move that is bound to outrage Democrats and even shock many Republicans in Washington.
Perhaps expressing that outrage, Tapper began his show in utter awe of the nomination.
'Welcome to The Lead, I'm Jake Tapper. And let me begin the show by uttering some words that I never contemplated using together before. And those words are: U.S. Attorney General Matt Gaetz, he said.'
He then said what he felt was the danger of Trump giving Gaetz such a position, which requires Senate confirmation.
Jake Tapper was absolutely dumbfounded beginning his show Wednesday after Donald Trump nominated Florida Congressman Matt Gaetz to be Attorney General
Trump named the controversial Florida Congressman Matt Gaetz as his nominee for attorney general
'If you were wondering what Trump without the guardrails looks like, well, we're getting an idea beyond the theoretical. We are starting with breaking news on so many fronts related to President-elect Donald Trump's transition.'
Gaetz is a MAGA firebrand who has taken aim at both GOP House members and Democrats alike as he has remained a close ally of Trump.
While Trump appears to be valuing staunch loyalty as a prerequisite for his choices to key posts over standard qualifications, the choice of Gaetz as the top law enforcement official in the land left many scratching their heads - if not scraping their jaws off the floor.
It was announced earlier this year that the GOP lawmaker is under an investigation by the House Ethics Committee for sexual misconduct, illicit drug use and bribery.
He was also the subject of a Justice Department investigation into sex trafficking involving a 17-year-old girl, but charges were never brought.
'It is my Great Honor to announce that Congressman Matt Gaetz, of Florida, is hereby nominated to be The Attorney General of the United States,' Trump wrote on Truth Social on Wednesday afternoon.
'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 continued.
If confirmed, Gaetz would become the top law enforcement officer in the nation, overseeing the Justice Department and the FBI.
Trump named the controversial Florida Congressman as his nominee in a move that is bound to outrage Democrats and even shock many Republicans in Washington
The president-elect claimed in his post there are few issues in the U.S. more important than 'ending the partisan Weaponization of our Justice System.'
Trump claimed Gaetz will 'restore Americans’ badly-shattered Faith and Confidence in the Justice Department.'
Gaetz posted on X in response to the announcement 'It will be an honor to serve as President Trump’s Attorney General!'
The longtime MAGA loyalist was first elected to Congress in 2016 to represent Florida's first congressional district. He previously served in the Florida House or Representatives.
Gaetz gained prominence for his controversial remarks as a member of Congress and actions as a member of the Freedom Caucus.
After taking office during Trump's first term, he became one of the lead critics into the Russia investigations into the 45th president.
Gaetz stepped down from his position in the U.S. House of Representatives just hours after the nomination.
