Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz Is Named Donald Trump's Attorney General Pick amid His House Ethics Investigation

Mar. 15, 2025

Embattled Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz has been named Donald Trump’s top choice for attorney general.

Matt Gaetz

Gaetz, 42, is one of the most controversial members of the House of Representatives, whoseexpulsion was once discussedamid aslew of allegationsrelating to sex trafficking, sexual misconduct with minors and illicit drug use, which he has denied.

Over the past few years Gaetz has beenat the center of House GOP infighting, which halted the House numerous times in 2023 and led to a historically unproductive year in Congress.

Gaetz is one of Trump’s most vocal allies in Congress, who has repeatedly claimed that the DOJ and FBI are corrupt under President Joe Biden while simultaneously endorsing Trump’s rhetoric to seek retribution against his enemies using the same government bodies.

In naming his pick for the nation’s top law enforcement officer, Trump told the Florida congressman to “root out the systemic corruption at DOJ.”

Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz on Capitol Hill in 2021.Drew Angerer/Getty

Rep. Matt Gaetz leaves a closed door meeting with former White House counsel Don McGahn at the House Judiciary Committee on Capitol Hill June 4, 2021

Drew Angerer/Getty

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His addition to the Cabinet, combined with rumors that Trump may wipe out career-long civil service workers in federal government, could leave the United States' legal arm without experienced lawyers and open the door for Trump to have unfettered control over the DOJ, which is traditionally insulated from the White House.

source: people.com