The former Florida congressman could face an uphill battle for confirmation in the Senate.
President-elect Donald Trump has selected longtime ally Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) as his nominee for U.S. attorney general.
Announcing the appointment on Nov. 13, Trump praised the congressman as a “deeply gifted and tenacious attorney” with a desire to reform the U.S. Department of Justice.
“Few issues in America are more important than ending the partisan Weaponization of our Justice System,” Trump said in a statement. “Matt will end Weaponized Government, protect our Borders, dismantle Criminal Organizations, and restore Americans’ badly shattered Faith and Confidence in the Justice Department.”
Gaetz, responding to the announcement on social media platform X, said it would be “an honor” to serve as Trump’s attorney general.
Although Gaetz is likely to face an uphill battle in the Senate confirmation process, he has since resigned his seat in the House of Representatives.
Here are five things to know about Gaetz.
A Conservative Firebrand
Gaetz, 42, is a Florida native who, until this week, represented much of the state’s Panhandle in Congress.
During his four terms representing Florida’s 1st District, Gaetz earned a reputation as a firebrand—a label he has wholeheartedly embraced. In fact, it’s the name of his podcast.
Known for his willingness to stir the pot, the former congressman has often spoken out against the Washington establishment, ruffling the feathers of Democrats and Republicans alike.
As a member of the House Freedom Caucus, Gaetz led efforts last year to dethrone Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.), resulting in the elevation of current Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.).
The move, while supported by many among Trump’s base, angered those loyal to McCarthy and fractured the Republican majority as the chamber struggled to elect a new speaker.
Gaetz was also a member of the Judiciary Committee’s panel on the Weaponization of the Federal Government and has been a vocal critic of the Justice Department.
Hours before his appointment became public, he took to social media to call for a “full court press against this WEAPONIZED government,” which he said had been turned against the American people.
“And if that means ABOLISHING every one of the three-letter agencies, from the FBI to the ATF, I’m ready to get going!” Gaetz wrote.
An Attorney
Gaetz earned his juris doctor from William & Mary Law School in Virginia. He was admitted to the Florida Bar in February 2008.
While announcing Gaetz’s resignation during a Nov. 13 press conference, the House speaker praised his colleague’s intelligence and talent as an attorney.
“Everyone who’s served with him will tell you he’s one of the most intelligent members of Congress,” Johnson, a constitutional attorney, told The Epoch Times.
“He’s an accomplished attorney. He’s been very worried about the lawfare that has been occurring in the Department of Justice under the Biden administration and the fact that the American people have lost their faith in the institutions of justice.”
Trump Loyalist
As one of Trump’s strongest allies in the House, Gaetz has long supported the president-elect and advocated for his agenda.
During Trump’s first term, Gaetz staunchly defended the 45th president’s innocence amid two impeachment inquiries.
Last year, the congressman introduced legislation to defund special counsel Jack Smith’s office after it became apparent that Smith was investigating Trump’s efforts to challenge the 2020 election results.
“They are attacking our democracy and engaging in election interference right now,” Gaetz said at the time. “The United States Congress has the capability to stop this election interference, and we must act immediately!”
Gaetz acted as a campaign surrogate for Trump throughout the 2024 presidential race, often joining him on the campaign trail and defending his record in the spin room after debates.
Criminal and Ethics Investigations
Gaetz, at one point, was investigated by the very department he is now poised to lead.
For two years, he was embroiled in a federal sex trafficking probe amid allegations that he had a sexual relationship with a 17-year-old girl and paid her to travel with him.
Gaetz maintained his innocence of any wrongdoing, and in February 2023, the Justice Department closed its investigation.
The former congressman’s conduct was also the focus of a House Ethics probe.
The committee launched its investigation of Gaetz in April 2021, after he confirmed he was under investigation by the Justice Department.
Gaetz has denied all allegations against him. He resigned just days before the Ethics Committee was expected to vote on whether to release its final report.
The resignation renders the panel’s investigation moot and no report will be released.
Confirmation Battle Ahead
While the House’s ethics investigation is effectively over, it could still pose a problem for Gaetz’s confirmation in the Senate.
Speaking with reporters at the Capitol on Nov. 13, Rep. Michael Guest (R-Miss.), chairman of the House Ethics Committee, noted that those in the upper chamber may have reservations based on the allegations the panel was investigating.
“If any of the senators have questions about his or any other Cabinet member’s ability to serve, those questions will be ferreted out during that confirmation process,” Guest said.
Gaetz will need to sway at least 50 senators to take leadership of the Justice Department. If there’s a 50–50 deadlock, Vice President-elect JD Vance’s tie-breaking vote would give Gaetz the simple majority needed for confirmation.
As Republicans have a projected 53–47 majority, that doesn’t leave much wiggle room—assuming that Democrats and independents all vote against him. And while Gaetz is popular with Trump’s base, his favorability among congressional Republicans might paint a mixed picture.
Speaking with reporters, Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) said she was “shocked” by the former congressman’s nomination and that there will likely be “an extensive background check by the FBI” and “a lot of questions asked” about the investigations surrounding his conduct.
Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) likewise expressed surprise, telling reporters, “This was not on my bingo card.” She said she finds Gaetz’s nomination to be unserious and that she looks forward to “considering somebody that is serious.”
On the other hand, Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), who has been picked by Trump to be secretary of state, said “I’ve known Matt for a very long time. We’re friends. I think he would do a very good job for the president.”
Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.) congratulated Gaetz on his nomination and praised him as “a true conservative warrior” who would “go to war for the Constitution.”
And to his Republican colleagues who oppose Gaetz’s confirmation, the senator said they should “Get on the team or get out of the way.”
Sam Dorman, Elizabeth Dowell, Joseph Lord, Ryan Morgan, and Arjun Singh contributed to this report.