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

Matt Gaetz withdraws consideration for Attorney General position

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.

Key Points

• Trump names Pam Bondi as new AG pick after controversial first choice Matt Gaetz withdraws
• Right-wing podcaster and former agent Dan Bongino in line to head Secret Service, report says
• Watch: Pete Hegseth responds to sexual assault allegations
• Report: Gaetz had second sexual encounter at party with girl, 17, that included another woman
• Full story: Matt Gaetz drops out of consideration for attorney general

[21 November 2024 17:46 · Oliver O'Connell]

Matt Gaetz: Ethic committee informed of second sexual encounter with 17-year-old, report says

Per CNN‘s exclusive report:

The woman who says she had sex when she was a minor with then-Rep. Matt Gaetz told the House Ethics Committee she had two sexual encounters with him at one party in 2017, sources familiar with her testimony tell CNN.

The woman, who was 17 years old at the time, testified that the second sexual encounter, which has not previously been reported, included another adult woman. She also testified to both sexual encounters in a civil deposition as part of a related lawsuit, sources said.

After being asked for comment for this story, Gaetz announced he was backing out as President-elect Donald Trump’s attorney general nominee.

[21 November 2024 17:33 · Oliver O'Connell]

BREAKING: Matt Gaetz withdraws from consideration for attorney general

Former Florida congressman Matt Gaetz has withdrawn his name from consideration for Donald Trump’s attorney general in his second administration.

In a statement on X, he said:

I had excellent meetings with Senators yesterday. I appreciate their thoughtful feedback - and the incredible support of so many. 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. There is no time to waste on a needlessly protracted Washington scuffle, thus I'll be withdrawing my name from consideration to serve as Attorney General. Trump's DOJ must be in place and ready on Day 1.

I remain fully committed to see that Donald J. Trump is the most successful President in history. I will forever be honored that President Trump nominated me to lead the Department of Justice and I'm certain he will Save America.

Watch this space for who gets the nod from the president-elect next...

[21 November 2024 17:30 · Oliver O'Connell]

Former GOP lawmaker slam RFK Jr over ‘diversity of thought’ and ‘insanity'

Donald Trump frequently mentioned fictional serial killer Hannibal Lecter while on the campaign trail, and now real-life monster Jeffrey Dahmer gets a shout-out.

James Liddell has the story.

[21 November 2024 17:21 · Oliver O'Connell]

Watch: Hegseth responds to sexual assault allegations during Capitol visit

[21 November 2024 17:00 · Oliver O'Connell]

Profile: Ginger Gaetz, standing by her husband amid serious sexual allegations

Ginger Gaetz beams as she stands beside her husband in loved-up photos curated on her Instagram page.

The 30-year-old wife of the former Florida congressman and Donald Trump’s pick for attorney general, Matt Gaetz, proudly describes herself as his “wifey” in her profile bio.

Her supportive posts about Gaetz, 42, signal an intent to stand by him as he battles resurfaced sexual allegations from his past.

“Attorney General will look great on you my love,” Ginger wrote a week ago when he was tapped by Trump to join his cabinet, and the backlash began to mount.

Rhian Lubin reports.

[21 November 2024 16:40 · Oliver O'Connell]

How did Trump really feel about the whole Kristy Noem dog killer story?

An NBC News report on the Trump team’s plans for day one of the administration revealed this nugget about Donald Trump’s reaction to the story that South Dakota Governor Kristy Noem had once shot the family dog, Cricket.

Per NBC News:

A key figure in the effort [to secure the border] will be Trump’s choice for homeland security secretary, Kristi Noem. As governor of South Dakota, she hasn’t managed a bureaucracy remotely like the Department of Homeland Security, which employs more than a quarter-million people and whose portfolio also includes cyber threats and terrorism.

Noem campaigned for Trump, though a person close to Trump was surprised he tapped her for the job. Trump hadn’t “talked very favorably about her” after her book came out in the spring revealing she had killed her overly aggressive dog, Cricket, the person said.

Trump was incredulous that she would choose to write about the episode given people’s emotional attachment to their pets, the person added. He was surprised that she “didn’t understand what the reaction would be,” the person said. Trump is “no dog guy, but he’s like, ‘Good Lord!’”

[21 November 2024 16:35 · Oliver O'Connell]

‘Like nothing in history’: Trump set to roll out wave of controversial executive actions on day one in office

Donald Trump’s allies have promised a “shock and awe” plan for mass deportations within his first days back in the White House.

Now, Trump’s transition team is outlining a series of executive actions on immigration within hours of his return, what one campaign official told NBC News will be “like nothing you’ve seen in history.”

Trump is expected to sign up to five executive actions targeting immigration shortly after he is sworn into office on January 20, according to NBC News.

Alex Woodward breaks down what to expect.

[21 November 2024 16:20 · Oliver O'Connell]

Harris still a favorite to run in 2028 primaries, poll says

A survey conducted shortly after the 2024 presidential election indicates most Democratic voters would support Vice President Kamala Harris in 2028 as the party’s nominee if she were to run for president again.

It’s only been two weeks since Democrats lost the presidency to Republicans but some are looking to the future, hopeful that a potential new, or familiar, pool of candidates will reinvigorate voters.

Though names like California Governor Gavin Newsom, Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro and Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg have emerged, Harris’s campaign seems to have made a lasting impact.

Ariana Baio looks at the numbers.