USA Trump's controversial attorney general of choice backs out

US President-elect Donald Trump must look for a new candidate for the office of Attorney General: his preferred candidate, the controversial former congressman Matt Gaetz, is no longer available. He is withdrawing his willingness to run, Gaetz announced on Platform X following consultations with US senators. The Senate must approve Trump's new ministers.

The debate surrounding his nomination had caused unnecessary distraction during the transition of power in the USA. "We don't have time for an unnecessarily protracted Washington tussle, and that's why I'm withdrawing my name from the nomination for Attorney General," explained Republican Gaetz. Trump's Justice Department must be ready for action on day one.

Gaetz affirmed that he would continue to work to make Trump the most successful president in history. He felt honored that Trump had nominated him. The Department of Justice could play a key role in Trump's second term - partly because of the ongoing criminal proceedings against the president-elect himself.

Doubts about Gaetz's suitability for the office

A fierce debate about Gaetz has flared up in recent days. The former congressman from Florida is accused of having sex with a minor and drug use, among other things. The 42-year-old denies both. For several years, the US Department of Justice also investigated him in the case for "sex trafficking", i.e. human trafficking for the purpose of sexual abuse, but ended its investigation without charges.

The Ethics Committee of the US House of Representatives continued to investigate the allegations and produced a final report, but Gaetz resigned from his position after Trump's nomination. On Wednesday, the committee decided not to publish the report on the allegations against the former MP for the time being. There had been no agreement to make the report public, said committee chairman Michael Guest.

Gaetz was nominated by Trump last week to head the Department of Justice in the future. The Democrats were in favor of publishing the investigation report, while the Republican chairman of the House of Representatives, Mike Johnson, was against it: he argued that this would set a precedent, as Gaetz was no longer a member of parliament.

Hardliner Gaetz has long been controversial

Gaetz has been one of the ultra-radicals within his Republican faction for years and is a loyal supporter of Trump. He represents right-wing positions and regularly spreads conspiracy theories. He is opposed to abortion, rejects same-sex marriage and opposes aid for Ukraine, which is under attack from Russia. After Trump supporters stormed the Capitol on January 6, 2021, Gaetz blamed "Antifa" (anti-fascist groups) for the violence without providing any evidence.

Among some party colleagues in the Senate - the chamber that has to confirm candidates for senior government posts - there were considerable doubts about his suitability for the position of Attorney General. Trump's Republicans hold a narrow majority of 53 of the 100 seats in the chamber of Congress. A few dissenters in his own ranks could therefore have been enough to torpedo the appointment.

SDA