Trump cabinet latest updates: Republicans and Democrats call for ethics report into Matt Gaetz to be released
Donald Trump has picked his controversial MAGA ally to oversee the nation’s Justice Department
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.President-elect Donald Trump’s pick of former Florida Representative Matt Gaetz to be his attorney general continues to stun Congress following the announcement.
Gaetz, whose nomination requires Senate approval, resigned from his seat in the US House of Representatives in light of the news, Speaker Mike Johnson confirmed on Wednesday. This will effectively end the House Ethics probe into allegations of sexual misconduct and drug use made against him.
Republicans and Democrats are shocked by his nomination and there were audible gasps by House Republicans at a conference meeting on Wednesday when the news about Gaetz broke, according to Axios.
“I don’t think it’s a serious nomination for the attorney general,” Alaska Republican Senator Lisa Murkowski said.
Senator Peter Welch, a Vermont Democrat, told The Independent the announcement sounded like a headline in a satire publication. “That was in The Onion,” he said.
Members of both parties have called for the report to be released.
Trump has also chosen former Democratic Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard and Florida Republican Senator Marco Rubio to join his administration. Gabbard is set to serve as the director of national intelligence while Rubio has been nominated to be secretary of state.
Meanwhile, the Republicans have gained control of the House, completing their trifecta.
Who is Pete Hegseth? The Fox News anchor turned nominee for Defense secretary
Secret Service agent fired for taking lover to Obamas’ Hawaii home and suggesting sex in Michelle’s bathroom
‘We are not a serious country’: Congress in shock after Gaetz tapped as Trump’s attorney general
Tulsi Gabbard claimed she was on a terrorist watchlist. She’s now set to lead America’s spy network
Will Matt Gaetz pass the Senate nomination process? He may not need to
Gaetz AG nomination continues to shock Republicans and Democrats
Gaetz’s nomination to be Trump’s attorney general continues to stun Republicans and Democrats.
Florida Democratic Party Chair Nikki Fried called Gaetz’s nomination a “living nightmare.”
“Donald Trump is raiding our state for any Florida Man loyal to him, no matter how incompetent, unqualified, or extreme they may be,” Fried said in a statement. “Tapping Marco Rubio as Secretary of State and Mike Waltz as National Security Advisor is a serious cause for concern, but nominating Matt Gaetz as Attorney General is beyond catastrophic for the country.”
Former GOP Representative Joe Walsh of Illinois told The Independent that “no one should be surprised” by Gaetz’s nomination.
“F*** ‘em,” Walsh said. “This is what America voted for.”
“Are you s****ing me?” Republican Representative Mike Simpson told The Hill when they informed him of the news.
Republican Senator Thom Tillis also told reporters on Capitol Hill: “I’m sure it’ll make for a popcorn-eating confirmation.”
Read more about the reaction below.
Republicans and Democrats in shock after Gaetz tapped as Trump’s attorney general
‘God help us,’ Representative Maxwell Frost, a fellow Floridian, posted in response to the news
Gaetz’s resignation from the House came two days before ‘highly damaging’ ethics report release
Matt Gaetz resigned from the House on Wednesday after Donald Trump tapped him for attorney general – and, according to new reports, two days before a “highly damaging’ ethics report on his conduct was set to be released.
Trump announced on Wednesday that the Florida lawmaker, a staunch ally, will be his nominee for Attorney General when he takes office in January.
Gaetz and his associates were at the center of a sex trafficking investigation carried out by current Attorney General Merrick Garland.
The former Florida lawmaker was ultimately never charged with a crime but remained the subject of a House Ethics Committee investigation regarding allegations of sexual misconduct and drug use.
The 42-year-old has denied all wrongdoing, and his resignation effectively ends their probe as he is no longer under their jurisdiction.
But, Gaetz’s resignation comes two days before the House Ethics committee was set to release a “highly damaging” report regarding their investigation, Punchbowl News reports.
More details from Katie Hawkinson.
Matt Gaetz resigns days before ‘highly damaging’ ethics report, report says
Gaetz’s resignation ends the House ethics probe into allegations of misconduct against him
NEW: Republican Senator ‘absolutely’ wants to review unreleased ethics report into Gaetz
Republican U.S. Senator John Cornyn – who was in the running for Senate Majority leader – told reporters today that he “absolutely” wants to review an unreleased congressional ethics report on Matt Gaetz, Donald Trump’s nominee for attorney general, according to Reuters news agency.
The president-elect’s nomination of Gaetz comes after the 42-year-old and his associates were at the center of a sex trafficking investigation carried out by current Attorney General Merrick Garland.
Gaetz was ultimately never charged with a crime but remained the subject of a House Ethics Committee investigation regarding, among other claims, allegations of sexual misconduct.
However, the committee’s investigation is now over following Gaetz’s resignation, which Speaker of the House Mike Johnson said was effective immediately.
Satirical news publication The Onion buys conspiracy site Infowars at bankruptcy auction
The satirical news publication The Onion won the bidding for Alex Jones’ Infowars at a bankruptcy auction, backed by families of Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting victims whom Jones owes more than $1 billion in defamation judgments for calling the massacre a hoax.
“The dissolution of Alex Jones’ assets and the death of Infowars is the justice we have long awaited and fought for,” Robbie Parker, whose daughter Emilie was killed in the 2012 shooting in Connecticut, said in a statement provided by his lawyers.
The Onion acquired the conspiracy theory platform’s website; social media accounts; studio in Austin, Texas; trademarks; and video archive. The sale price was not immediately disclosed. The Onion said its “exclusive launch advertiser” will be the gun violence prevention organization Everytown for Gun Safety.
Jones confirmed the news in a social media post on X.
Read more.
No foolin’: The Onion buys Alex Jones’ Infowars site at auction
The sale price was not immediately disclosed
John Bolton gives damning assessment of Trump’s cabinet picks
Donald Trump’s former National Security Advisor gave a damning assessment of picks for the president-elect’s new cabinet.
The president-elect has already demonstrated his willingness to appoint his cheerleaders to top positions, including Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy, who were recently named as the joint heads of the new Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).
Other eye-brow-raising picks include Fox News host Pete Hegseth as defense secretary.
During an interview with CNN, Bolton was asked about those selected by the President-elect so far.
“I do think there’s a group of people who think that they are going to be able to screen out people, not on the basis of philosophy so much as on their attitude toward the president,” he said.
Mike Bedigan reports.
John Bolton sums up Trump’s ideal cabinet picks in one damning word
Trump’s former National Security Advisor said that rather than having ‘loyalty’ from those selected to serve in his new administration, the President-elect would prefer ‘fealty’
Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency faces roadblocks
Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy’s newly-formed Department of Government Efficiency might not be as plain sailing as they would hope.
Their plans to slash government spending and restructure federal agencies face roadblocks, experts have said.
Ramaswamy once said he had plans to cut the federal workforce by 75 percent on “day one,” while Musk has called for a 33 percent cut in federal spending.
Justin Schnitzer, a federal employment attorney, cautions that it won’t happen on day one.
“The maximalist numbers like 75 percent are unlikely to happen at all,” he said.
“Firings on this scale would bring government services across the country to a screeching halt, which would be unpopular with voters across the spectrum. Additionally, federal employees have rights and unjustified mass firings will result in justified mass appeals.”
Meanwhile, Douglas Holtz-Eakin, president of American Action Forum, told the Hill: “There’s the executive branch that might be in their way. The Congress might be in their way. The Constitution is a bit of an obstacle.”
“Other than that, clear sailing.”
Law expert says Gaetz confirmation as AG will be a ‘monumental challenge’
A law professor says Gaetz faces a “monumental challenge” to get confirmed as attorney general.
“If Trump wanted to defibrillate the Justice Department, the Matt Gaetz nomination is the 100,000-volt option,” Jonathan Turley, a law professor at George Washington University, said in a post on X.
“Just a day after the announcement, this is shaping up as one of the most intense confirmation fights in congressional history,” he added.
Has Elon Musk outstayed his welcome at Mar-a-Lago?
Melania Trump is enjoying Elon Musk’s sudden constant presence around Mar-a-Lago, despite her husband Donald Trump teasing that the billionaire has overstayed his welcome, according to a source.
The president-elect and the tech billionaire have become somewhat inseparable since Trump was re-elected to the White House last week, with Musk now a fixture at his Palm Beach residence.
While some Trumpworld insiders are said to be rattled by this sudden closeness, a source told Page Six that the incoming first lady is a big fan of Trump’s self-styled “First Buddy” and likes him being around.
It comes as Trump reportedly said: “Elon won’t go home. I can’t get rid of him – at least until I don’t like him.”
James Liddell has more.
Melania Trump’s thoughts on ‘First Buddy’ Elon Musk revealed
President-elect joked on Wednesday that ‘Elon won’t go home’ and that he ‘can’t get rid of him’
Alina Habba pours cold water on Trump press secretary rumors
Alina Habba, a lawyer who represented Donald Trump in a series of high-profile cases, has confirmed she will not be his White House Press Secretary despite reports she was the possible front-runner.
Panic at the DOJ
Panic had already set in at the Department of Justice prior to Matt Gaetz’s nomination to head up the agency.
Lawyers are considering fleeing the agency before Trump loyalists take over and execute his vision, according to reports.
Now the panic has gone into overdrive.
“This is completely wild. It’s so out of bounds, it’s just shocking,” one DOJ lawyer told Politico. “He’s there for one purpose: to enact retribution. I’m pretty sure he doesn’t have a grand vision about the future of the department. I can’t imagine how this isn’t going to scare people even more.”
Donald Trump’s scorn for the DOJ has only grown over the last four years as he became the subject of two criminal prosecutions, and he has previously talked of transforming the agency.
“Everyone I’ve talked to, mostly lawyers, are losing their minds,” one DOJ attorney previously said.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments