Sen. John Fetterman (D-PA) said President Trump’s nomination of Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) as attorney general is “God-tier level trolling.”
“To just trigger a full on China syndrome. To own the libs in perpetuity,” he added.
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Sen. John Fetterman says Donald Trump tapping Rep. Matt Gaetz for Attorney General is “god tier level trolling.” pic.twitter.com/O7RfrKBRbk
— Brennan Leach (@brennanleach) November 13, 2024
“It will be an honor to serve as President Trump’s Attorney General!” Gaetz responded to Trump’s announcement.
It will be an honor to serve as President Trump’s Attorney General! pic.twitter.com/dg0iQ0bA6Y
— Matt Gaetz (@mattgaetz) November 13, 2024
“But, really, the Dems’ opinions on Gaetz, that’s not really what’s interesting. The good ones are going to come by my colleagues on the other side, the GOP, on how they can justify voting for that j*** off,” Fetterman added, according to Fox News.
Multiple Senate Republicans signaled they would not support confirming the nomination of Gaetz as President Trump’s attorney general.
Fox News reports:
Aside from Gaetz, Trump has nominated Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., to serve as secretary of state and Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y., for ambassador to the United Nations. Those were serious picks, Fetterman said.
He also noted that Sen. Eric Schmitt, R-Mo., served as attorney general of Missouri before being elected to Congress.
“He would have been a solid pick. And then you put out someone like that,” Fetterman said of Gaetz’s selection. “That’s just nothing but trolling. The interesting answers are going to come from my colleagues on the GOP that they’re going to vote or justify voting for that mess.”
Gaetz could face an uphill battle to get confirmed by the Senate.
“He will never get confirmed,” a Republican senator, granted anonymity to speak freely, told Fox News Digital. Another Senate Republican source said, “Ain’t gonna happen.”
“I don’t think it is a serious nomination for the attorney general. We need to have a serious attorney general and I’m looking forward to the opportunity to consider somebody that is serious. This one was not on my bingo card,” Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) said.
Murkowski: I don't think it is a serious nomination for the attorney general. We need to have a serious attorney general and I'm looking forward to the opportunity to consider somebody that is serious. This one was not on my bingo card. pic.twitter.com/CAzLQFGHKb
— Acyn (@Acyn) November 14, 2024
Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) hinted at pushback due to the ethics investigation into Gaetz.
“He’s under investigation by the House Committee on Ethics,” Collins said, according to Fox News.
“Obviously, the president has the right to nominate whomever he wishes, but this is why the background checks that are done by the FBI and the advice and consent process in the Senate, and public hearings are also important,” she added.
Per Newsweek:
Gaetz, who has represented Florida’s 1st Congressional District since 2016, has been under investigation by the House Ethics Committee over allegations including sexual misconduct. The Department of Justice (DOJ) in 2023 told Gaetz that he would not face federal sex-trafficking charges. Gaetz has denied any wrongdoing.
Gaetz would replace Attorney General Merrick Garland, whose Department of Justice led criminal investigations against former President Trump, charging him over alleged attempts to overturn his election loss in 2020 and handling of classified documents after leaving the White House. Trump has denied any wrongdoing.
Vice President-elect JD Vance pointed to this in his response to Gaetz’s nomination, when he said on X: “The main issue with Matt Gaetz is that he used his office to prosecute his political opponents and authorized federal agents to harass parents who were peacefully protesting at school board meetings.” “Oh wait,” he added. “That’s actually Merrick Garland, the current attorney general.”
Gaetz, who, according to House Speaker Mike Johnson, has already resigned from Congress, will have to be confirmed by the Senate before he officially has the role.
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