Matt Gaetz Archives

Bondi in her confirmation hearing says Trump was ‘targeted’ by Justice Department investigations

WASHINGTON (AP) — Donald Trump’s pick for attorney general, Pam Bondi, has insisted at her Senate confirmation hearing that Trump was targeted by years of investigations. Bondi pledges she would not “politicize” the Justice Department if confirmed as the country’s chief federal law enforcement officer. Bondi’s statements Wednesday echoed Trump’s claims the Justice Department had been weaponized against him. Democrats are concerned the Republican president-elect will look to use the agency’s law enforcement powers to exact retribution against his adversaries, including the investigators who investigated him. Bondi s a former Florida attorney general. Bondi says she would work to restore confidence and integrity to the Department of Justice.… Continue Reading

House Ethics Committee accuses Gaetz of ‘regularly’ paying for sex, including with 17-year-old girl

WASHINGTON (AP) — The House Ethics Committee has accused Matt Gaetz of “regularly” paying for sex, including with a 17-year-old girl, and purchasing and using illicit drugs all while the Florida Republican was a member of Congress. The 37-page report by the bipartisan panel includes explicit details of sex-filled parties and vacations that Gaetz took part in while representing Florida’s western panhandle. The findings conclude that he violated multiple state laws related to sexual misconduct while in office. Gaetz has denied all wrongdoing and filed a lawsuit Monday trying to block the report’s release.… Continue Reading

House Ethics Committee secretly voted to release Matt Gaetz ethics report, source says

WASHINGTON (AP) — The House Ethics Committee has voted in secret to release the long-awaited ethics report into former Rep. Matt Gaetz. The move by the bipartisan panel raises the possibility that the allegations against the Florida Republican who was President-elect Donald Trump’s first choice for attorney general could be made public in the coming days. The decision by the bipartisan committee was made earlier this month, according to a person familiar with the vote who was not authorized to publicly discuss the matter and spoke on condition of anonymity. CNN first reported the vote. Gaetz lashed out on social media, again denying any wrongdoing.… Continue Reading

Here are the people Trump has picked for key positions so far

President-elect Donald Trump is filling key posts in his second administration, putting an emphasis so far on aides and allies who were his strongest backers during the 2024 campaign. Among his picks are Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to lead the Department of Health and Human Services, Florida Sen. Marco Rubio for secretary of state, former Democratic House member Tulsi Gabbard for director of national intelligence and Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz for attorney general.… Continue Reading

Matt Gaetz says he won’t return to Congress next year after withdrawing name for attorney general

WASHINGTON (AP) — Matt Gaetz is not coming back to Congress. The Florida Republican said Friday he has no intention of serving another term in the House now that he is no longer President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee for attorney general. Gaetz withdrew as the nominee this week amid growing fallout from the allegations of sexual conduct against him. Gaetz denies the allegations. Gaetz didn’t lay out his plans now that he’s out of office, saying only, “I’m still going to be in the fight, but it’s going to be from a new perch.” After Gaetz’s withdrawal on Thursday, Trump named former Florida attorney general Pam Bondi to lead the Justice Department.… Continue Reading

Trump chooses Pam Bondi for attorney general pick after Gaetz withdraws

WASHINGTON (AP) — Matt Gaetz has withdrawn as President-elect Donald Trump’s pick for attorney general following scrutiny over a federal sex trafficking investigation. The Florida Republican made the announcement Thursday. Gaetz’s withdrawal is a blow to Trump’s push to install steadfast loyalists in his incoming administration and the first sign that Trump could face resistance from members of his own party.… Continue Reading

Republicans on the House Ethics Committee reject releasing report on Matt Gaetz

WASHINGTON (AP) — Republicans on the House Ethics Committee voted Wednesday against releasing a report on their long-running investigation into President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee for attorney general, former Rep. Matt Gaetz. That’s according to the top Democrat on the panel, Rep. Susan Wild of Pennsylvania. She said the ethics panel, which is evenly split between the two parties, voted at a lengthy closed-door meeting, and no Republican joined Democrats who wanted to release the report. Gaetz met for hours behind closed doors Wednesday with Republican senators who have questions about the sexual misconduct and other allegations against him. At least one Republican, Sen. Lindsey Graham, decried the “lynch mob” forming against Gaetz.… Continue Reading

Trump picks Matt Gaetz for attorney general, Marco Rubio for Secretary of State

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump says he will nominate Republican Matt Gaetz of Florida to serve as his attorney general, putting a loyalist in the role of the nation’s top prosecutor. In selecting the congressman, Trump passed over some of the more established attorneys whose names had been mentioned as being contenders for the job. “Matt will end Weaponized Government, protect our Borders, dismantle Criminal Organizations and restore Americans’ badly-shattered Faith and Confidence in the Justice Department,” Trump said in a statement.… Continue Reading