Donald Trump has dispatched JD Vance to Washington to shore up support for Matt Gaetz, the president-elect’s choice for attorney-general who faces accusations about his alleged sexual misconduct and drug use.
Vance, the vice-president-elect, will act as a kind of “sherpa” for Gaetz and Pete Hegseth, the Fox News host Trump nominated for defence secretary, according to a person familiar with the mission.
Elon Musk, Trump’s billionaire confidant, has also rushed to defend Gaetz, posting on X that the former Florida congressman had three “critical assets” needed to run the Department of Justice — “a big brain, a spine of steel and an axe to grind”.
“He is the Judge Dredd America needs to clean up a corrupt system and put powerful bad actors in prison,” Musk added in a reference to a fictional comic book character who pursues criminals in a dystopian world. “Gaetz will be our Hammer of Justice.”
The persuasion effort from Trump’s transition team comes as the House of Representatives ethics committee prepares to vote on whether to release the findings of an investigation into drug and sex allegations against Gaetz.
US media also reported on Tuesday that a hacker had downloaded documents from another civil suit against the Florida congressman.
Trump sent shockwaves through Washington last week when he selected Gaetz, a 42-year-old conservative firebrand with little legal experience, as his nominee for attorney-general.
Gaetz was under investigation by the US Department of Justice for allegedly having… Read more
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@RatifiedCatGreen1yr1Y
Gaetz and Vance represent a distinct break from GOP orthodoxy on industrial policy, corporate accountability, antitrust & other economic thinking. But don't expect nuanced commentary from most Dem partisans, who erupt with outrage at any mention of this
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, that's actually Merrick Garland, the current attorney general.
Let’s be honest, the DOJ’s been corrupt for decades, no matter who’s in charge. Gaetz might be a terrible choice, but pretending the FBI or the DOJ ever cared about justice is naive. This is just another step in the government’s endless power plays. Maybe Gaetz as AG will be so bad, people finally wake up to how rigged this system is.
@9ZPBGP31yr1Y
I find it hard to believe that someone can be hired for the job just because they are loyal to Trump. Someone who has been accused of countless sexual crimes by the DOJ and the House of Ethics Committee, should not even be considered. Democrat or Republican party aside this should not be the norm of someone in a very high position of power.
Karoline Leavitt is the youngest press secretary in history.
JD Vance is the 3rd youngest VP in history.
Matt Gaetz is the 3rd youngest AG in history.
Our movement is young, tough, and ready to save America.
The next generation is rising.
@Renaldo-MoonGreen1yr1Y
The 1% of the next generation
Most young people don't support this spit
Imagine having to carry water for a credibly accused sexual predator like Matt Gaetz because MAGA or something
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