Trump cabinet latest updates: Pam Bondi nominated as new AG pick after Matt Gaetz steps down
Former Florida congressman withdrew from consideration as more details of ethics investigation leaked
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Your support makes all the difference.Former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi is Donald Trump’s new pick to lead the Department of Justice following the departure of former Florida Congressman Matt Gaetz.
“For too long, the partisan Department of Justice has been weaponized against me and other Republicans - Not anymore. Pam will refocus the DOJ to its intended purpose of fighting Crime, and Making America Safe Again,” Trump wrote in a statement on Thursday evening.
Gaetz withdrew his name from consideration for the role on Thursday.
In a statement on X, he said: “While the momentum was strong, it is clear that my confirmation was unfairly becoming a distraction to the critical work of the Trump/Vance Transition.”
He was the subject of investigations into drug use and sex with a minor, allegations which he has always denied.
Meanwhile, police have released a detailed investigative report into Pete Hegseth, the Fox News personality and military veteran Donald Trump has nominated to be America’s next defense secretary, after he was accused of sexual assault by a woman he met at a conservative conference in Monterey, California, in 2017, the latest resurfaced scandal to dog the incoming administration.
Trump names Pam Bondi as new AG pick after controversial first choice Matt Gaetz withdraws
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Trump’s new AG pick didn’t pursue lawsuit against Trump University – after he donated $25k to her campaign
Ex-military chief slaps down claim by Trump defense secretary pick that women shouldn’t serve in combat
Morning Joe hosts agreed to Trump meeting over fears of Joe Scarborough intern death probe, report claims
Matt Gaetz: What to know about sexual misconduct allegations as he withdraws as Trump’s attorney general pick
Matt Gaetz has withdrawn himself from consideration for the role of Donald Trump’s attorney general.
The former Florida congressman announced he was ending his bid to head up the Justice Department on Thursday, saying he had become “a distraction” to the future Trump-Vance administration.
His withdrawal comes following a week of intense scrutiny over resurfaced allegations of wrongdoing, including a federal sex trafficking probe – that ended without charges – and a House ethics inquiry. He vehemently denies the allegations.
Josh Marcus and Rhian Lubin break down what you need to know.
Matt Gaetz controversy: What to know about sexual misconduct allegations
Trump loyalist said his appointment proved too much of a ‘distraction,’ leading him to drop out
Bill O’Reilly claims Trump’s cabinet will have zero policy input: ‘Say ‘yes, sir’ or they’re not going to be OK’
Bill O’Reilly, the former Fox News host, has argued that President-elect Donald Trump’s cabinet picks will not have any sway over policy in his next administration.
The 75-year-old appeared on NewsNation on Wednesday night, saying that Trump is likely to concentrate power at the White House and simply have his department leaders follow his directives.
The commentator compared Trump’s incoming administration to that of Franklin D. Roosevelt, saying that the president-elect will put in place a structure where cabinet members will simply follow his lead.
Read more:
Bill O’Reilly claims Trump’s cabinet will have zero policy input: ‘Say ‘yes, sir’’
‘The second time around is going to be totally different than the first time, and this is why there is so much chaos and confusion,’ said former Fox News host
Sex scandal claims swirl around Trump’s cabinet
President-elect Donald Trump’s cabinet is proving to be one of the most controversial in recent memory, including a number of people who face sexual misconduct allegations.
Trump himself has been accused of sexual misconduct by more than two dozen women. He has bragged about grabbing women “by the p***y.” A jury found him liable for sex abuse against former Elle columnist E. Jean Carroll.
Still, he has been elected twice to serve as president. He has denied all the accusations against him.
“This is not a good time for survivors or victims. People are not going to speak up because, look, it’s falling on deaf ears. No one cares,” one of Trump’s accusers previously told The Independent after he was re-elected.
Now, he’s nominated a number of individuals who also face claims of engaging in or tolerating sexual misconduct.
Karoline Leavitt, Trump-Vance transition spokeswoman said: “The American people re-elected President Trump by a resounding margin giving him a mandate to implement the promises he made on the campaign trail — and his Cabinet picks reflect his priority to put America First. President Trump will continue to appoint highly-qualified men and women who have the talent, experience, and necessary skill sets to Make America Great Again.”
Kelly Rissman looks at some of the contentious picks Trump has made for his inner circle.
All the sex scandal claims against Trump’s cabinet as Gaetz ditches AG bid
The president-elect has nominated a number of people to his inner circle who face claims related to sex scandals - much like he has
Piers Morgan mocks Ellen DeGeneres over reported decision to move to England after Trump win
Ellen DeGeneres and her wife, Portia de Rossi, have reportedly listed their Montecito estate and relocated to rural England following Donald Trump’s presidential win.
The former TV host, 66, and her wife, 51, have fled the country and plan to “never return” to the U.S., sources told The Wrap.
The couple of 16 years has move to the Cotswolds in South West England, the outlet reports, and their Montecito mansion, about 90 miles north of Los Angeles, has either already been privately listed or will be on the market soon.
Inga Parkel has more.
Piers Morgan mocks Ellen DeGeneres over move to England after Trump win
Former TV host and her wife have reportedly put their Montecito estate on the market and moved to rural England
Tommy Tuberville tells Steve Bannon 2020 election was stolen
Alabama Republican Senator Tommy Tuberville questioned the validity of the 2020 election during an appearance on Steve Bannon’s War Room podcast with an offensive rant in which he called President Joe Biden a “bedridden dementia patient.”
Bannon, President-elect Donald Trump’s former White House chief strategist, asked Tuberville about the Democrats, saying “They’re there to fully stop Donald Trump and hopefully take their plans to take the House in two years and impeach him, right?”
Tuberville said the Democrats’ plan “was accelerated because they stole the election from President Trump and they were able to get four years with a bedridden dementia patient.”
Gustaf Kilander reports.
Tommy Tuberville tells Steve Bannon 2020 election was stolen in rant about Joe Biden
Alabama Senator says Democrats ‘were able to get four years with a bedridden dementia patient’
Trump’s new AG pick didn’t pursue lawsuit against Trump University – after he donated $25k to her campaign
The incoming Trump administration didn’t waste time on Thursday after Matt Gaetz announced he was dropping his bid to become attorney general, announcing former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi would seek the top position at the Justice Department instead.
Bondi, who served as Florida’s attorney general from 2011 to 2019, is both an experienced public official and a long-time Trump ally.
Josh Marcus reports.
Trump’s AG didn’t sue Trump University after $25K donation
Former Florida official has lengthy record of high-profile prosecutions, as well multiple moments of ethical scrutiny
Trump’s education secretary pick Linda McMahon body slammed by Kane in resurfaced WWE clip
A resurfaced clip of President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee for Secretary of Education getting body slammed in the wrestling ring by Kane, who is now a Republican mayor, has gone viral.
WWE co-founder Linda McMahon was announced as one of Trump’s cabinet picks on November 19 with critics and WWE fans questioning her qualifications for the role.
Brittany Miller has more.
Trump’s education pick Linda McMahon body slammed by Kane in resurfaced WWE clip
The billionaire former wrestling executive was announced as the nominee for Secretary of Education on November 19
RFK Jr compared ‘bully’ Trump to Hitler
The incoming Trump administration’s pick to lead the Department of Health and Human Services, Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., has a history of scathing criticisms against the president-elect, including comparing him to Hitler and branding his supporters “belligerent idiots” and “outright Nazis.”
The remarks, many of which were made on Kennedy’s “Ring of Fire” radio show in 2016, were uncovered by CNN.
Josh Marcus reports.
RFK Jr. once compared ‘bully’ Trump to Hitler and called him a ‘threat to democracy’
Trump nominee blames past criticisms on ‘mainstream media’
Ex-military chief slaps down claim by Trump defense secretary pick that women shouldn’t serve in combat
A former military chief has hit back at Donald Trump’s Defense Secretary nominee over remarks made about women serving in the armed forces.
General Mark Milley, who served as the 20th Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said that the US military “must be and always should be” standards-based, as he called out the comments by Pete Hegseth.
Hegseth, a military veteran and former Fox News host, was announced as the President-elect’s choice for secretary of defense last week, in a move that caused consternation across the political aisle. He served 13 years as a part-time member of the National Guard, culminating in the rank of major.
Mike Bedigan reports.
Ex-military chief blasts claim by Pete Hegseth that women shouldn’t serve in combat
Mark Milley, who served as the 20th Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said that the US military ‘must be and always should be’ standards-based
Lara Trump’s latest career move... activewear mogul
Donald Trump’s daughter-in-law, Lara Trump, has started a new clothes brand as her latest career move after releasing pop songs and being floated as a possible senator.
The co-chair of the Republican National Committee, took to Instagram this week to launch her new activewear line — The LT Brand by Lara Trump Collection.
Gustaf Kilander has the story.
Potential senator and now clothes brand owner: Lara Trump’s latest career move
RNC co-chair says ‘every piece’ of new activewear brand ‘is handcrafted in the USA because I believe in bringing jobs back home’
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