Personally, I wholeheartedly support him for the role, and perhaps if it becomes necessary I’ll make the case for why I believe he’s ideal to take on the UniParty Swamp as the top law enforcement leader in the nation. But for now I just want to add clarity to the conversation because there seems to be a lot of confusion about what happens from here.
I discussed it in detail in a segment of my show (apologies for the backup YouTube link but I don’t have it posted on my Rumble channel yet):
For those who prefer to read rather than watch, here are the four paths for Gaetz to become Attorney General. I’ve put them in order from least to most ideal.
“Forced” Recess
There has been a lot of buzz about Speaker of the House Mike Johnson “forcing” the Senate into recess if upcoming Senate Majority Leader John Thune is unwilling or unable to adjourn for the required 10 days so Trump can make recess appointments.
What Johnson was referring to was a resolution calling for both chambers to adjourn. If the Senate does not want to adjourn, they can send back their edits to the resolution. If Johnson then denies the edits, the chambers are in a “state of disagreement” over adjourning. If that happens, then President Trump would decide when they adjourn and for how long.
If it sounds too good to be true, that’s because it is. This has never happened in Congress for a reason. All Thune has to do is… nothing. If he does not reply to Johnson’s resolution, it goes into limbo. Nothing happens other than Johnson being able to say he gave it his best shot.
Temporary Appointment
The Federal Vacancies Reform Act of 1998 allows President Trump to appoint Gaetz as Attorney General in an “acting” role. This will give him full power over the Department of Justice and does not require the Senate’s advice or consent.
But it only lasts for 210 days. If President Trump nominates someone else during that time, then Gaetz can remain in the role until the Senate confirms the new Attorney General, but not longer than another 210 days.
This would give us 7-14 months with Attorney General Matt Gaetz. It’s better than nothing and a lot can be done in that time. But obviously it’s not ideal for those of us who want him to fill the role for at least four years.
Planned Recess
The option that most seem to be hoping for is a recess appointment made with a cooperative Senate and Senate Majority Leader adjourning for 11 days. This is what Trump called for before the secret GOP Senate leadership vote and all three contenders agreed to some extent.
Fast forward to today and this seems less likely, but I still think it could happen if Thune really is on Trump’s side and if he doesn’t see a path to confirmation. Gaetz can only afford to lose three GOP votes and some are saying ten or more Republican Senators are not committed to voting for him.
The reason this isn’t the most ideal scenario is because even though it’s faster than going through the confirmation process, it also opens the doors for lawfare to slow or even stop it. Trump wants the option available but he would prefer…
Senate Confirmation
A SPEEDY confirmation process for Gaetz and everyone else Trump appoints is the ideal scenario. Trump knows this which is why he’s been hitting the phones to stir up support among Republican Senators.
The risk here is if Thune works at Mitch McConnell’s speed. During Trump’s first term, McConnell was only able to confirm one of Trump’s picks before Inauguration Day. Compare that to Barack Obama and George W. Bush who both had key people in place with double-digit confirmations before they even stepped foot in the Oval Office.
I neither like nor trust Thune but he’s who we have so I’m going to give him the opportunity to prove me wrong about him. I hope and pray that he can buzz through confirmations and have Trump’s team in place early. If he can unify the caucus behind Gaetz, Robert F. Kennedy Jr, Pete Hegseth, Tulsi Gabbard, and any of the other controversial picks, then Thune will earn my respect for now. If he pulls a McConnell and acts to subvert Agenda 47, then he will prove to be the UniParty Swamp creature that I believe him to be.
]]>Absolutely not.
Make those opposed to him ask him questions. Make them try to demonstrate why he’s not worthy of the position. LET HIIM DEFEND HIMSELF because he has done nothing wrong.
What he HAS done is gone against the grain and challenged their fellow RINOs with historic results. By putting him through the confirmation process they will essentially try to convict him. Consider it his first warm up match before taking on the most consequential role in the administration.
A recess appointment lets them off the hook. They need to put on public display their disdain for anything or anyone who would dare issue the proverbial search warrant for their DC Country Club. They need to tell the American people why they believe a patriot who doesn’t need the money is somehow more corrupt than they are.
They’ve tried to bribe, bully, and blackmail Matt Gaetz over the years and they’ve failed. That terrifies the UniParty Swamp because it means they won’t be able to prevent him from bringing their crimes to light. For too long they’ve hidden behind procedures and protocols while pretending like everything in the Senate is on the up and up, but it’s clear that the cowards on both sides of the aisle are more interested in protecting their own interests than the interests of the people they represent.
A confirmation hearing for Gaetz will be an excellent test of John Thune’s leadership. Senate Republicans who backed him said we can trust him. This is his chance to demonstrate that.
The UniParty Swamp is using the media to paint a dark picture of Gaetz’s chances of confirmation. Their hope is that President Trump will pick someone less aggressive, or at least use a recess appointment to keep them from having to expose themselves in a public hearing. Neither should happen. President Trump should stick to his guns, put Gaetz in front of the Senate, and make them do their job.
This is our country. They work for us. Let Gaetz go to work, starting with a confirmation hearing. I’m confident that he’ll shine and they’ll have no choice but to confirm him.
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(DCNF)—CNN political commentator Scott Jennings on Wednesday said President-elect Donald Trump “is feeling his power” following his selection of Republican Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz as attorney general.
Trump announced Gaetz’s appointment on Truth Social Wednesday, asserting that “Matt will end Weaponized Government, protect our Borders, dismantle Criminal Organizations, and restore Americans’ badly-shattered Faith and Confidence in the Justice Department.” Jennings, on “CNN News Central,” said he was “surprised” by Trump’s choice, adding that it reflects the president-elect’s confidence that Republicans will support his agenda without resistance.
WATCH:
“Are you not entertained? I mean, this is the most entertaining transition I’ve ever seen … I’m as surprised as anyone. But what I take away from this is that this is a president-elect who is feeling his power,” Jennings said. “I mean, this is someone who is appointing people to things, whether it’s Gaetz or anything else we’ve seen today, who is feeling his power, feeling his influence, doesn’t feel like he’s in a mood to negotiate with the people in Washington, D.C. He’s here to do what he wants to do and he’s going to expect the Republicans to fall in line.”
“It is apparent to me that Trump is in a decisive mood and is not someone who’s interested in picking things that he would consider to be watered down,” he added. “So that’s my initial reaction … I mean, we truly learned about it two seconds before we came on here, so pretty wild day.”
Trump also announced he would appoint former Hawaii Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard to be director of National Intelligence for his second administration in a Wednesday statement, writing that she will bring a “fearless spirit” to the intelligence community to help secure “Peace through Strength.” Moreover, the president-elect named Republican Florida Sen. Marco Rubio as his pick for secretary of state in another Wednesday statement, calling him an “Advocate for our Nation, a true friend to our Allies and a fearless Warrior.”
Trump on announced in a Tuesday statement that Fox News host and veteran Pete Hegseth is his choice for secretary of defense in his upcoming administration.
“You can’t underestimate Donald Trump’s influence over the Republicans in the Senate on this. And he’s going to be insistent that he get his government and his administration. And look, here’s the thing: He won. And he won the popular vote and he believes he has a mandate,” Jennings said. “And honestly I think he does too. And some of these picks are conventional. Marco Rubio, for instance, you know? Well-known name. But some of them are designed to shake up Washington. And I am assuming that’s what Donald Trump believes he’s doing here with a few of these folks.”
CNN anchor Dana Bash said Wednesday that she couldn’t come up with a single “example” of why governing “could be harder” for Trump in his second term due to his strong support among elected Republicans.
“That really does change the game for Donald Trump in how he can get things through, who he can get through and the kind of support he has for what he wants to do,” she said.
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]]>(DCNF)—Democratic Connecticut Sen. Chris Murphy said Wednesday that President-elect Donald Trump’s choice of Republican Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz for attorney general signals a plan to use the Justice Department to target political opponents.
Trump announced Gaetz’ selection in a Truth Social post, describing him as a “deeply gifted and tenacious attorney, trained at the William & Mary College of Law” who would end “Weaponized Government.” Murphy, on “The Lead with Jake Tapper,” called the decision “stunning” and warned of “cataclysmic” consequences for “American democracy.”
WATCH:
“I was walking off the Senate floor just moments ago when the news was announced. You could literally hear the jaws dropping to the floor of Republican senators who are now going to be in a position to stand up to Donald Trump in a way that they have been unwilling to. I mean, listen, Matt Gaetz is dangerously unqualified, but that’s not the worst of it,” Murphy said. “Gaetz has been Trump‘s chief defender when it comes to Trump’s assault on democracy, his attempt to overthrow the government on January 6. And he has openly called for the abolition of law enforcement agencies if they don’t get in line with conservative political priorities. This is going to be a red alert moment for American democracy.”
“Matt Gaetz is being nominated for one reason and one reason only. Because he will implement Donald Trump‘s transition of the Department of Justice from an agency that stands up for all of us to an agency that is simply an arm of the White House designed to persecute and prosecute Trump’s political enemies,” Murphy said. “This is a stunning announcement in some ways, but not surprising in others because Trump told us during the campaign that he was going to use the White House to go after people who politically opposed him, and it seems this pick for the head of the Department of Justice is very much in line with the promises he made during the campaign.”
Trump also announced Wednesday that he would appoint former Hawaii Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard to be director of National Intelligence. He also said he would appoint Republican Florida Sen. Marco Rubio for secretary of state. He announced on Tuesday that he would appoint Fox News host and veteran Pete Hegseth as secretary of defense.
“Matt Gaetz is being nominated because he will be and is today a political agent of Donald Trump. The ramifications of this pick, this particular pick, are stunning and potentially cataclysmic for American democracy,” Murphy added. “I hope that some Senate Republicans will see that.”
Trump is facing multiple federal prosecutions from special counsel Jack Smith, but the Department of Justice is considering how to wind down its cases against him as he prepares to take office in January, multiple reports indicate. DOJ policy bars the criminal prosecution of sitting presidents.
All content created by the Daily Caller News Foundation, an independent and nonpartisan newswire service, is available without charge to any legitimate news publisher that can provide a large audience. All republished articles must include our logo, our reporter’s byline and their DCNF affiliation. For any questions about our guidelines or partnering with us, please contact [email protected].
]]>It will be an honor to serve as President Trump’s Attorney General! pic.twitter.com/dg0iQ0bA6Y
— Matt Gaetz (@mattgaetz) November 13, 2024
Wow. Considering the string of awful Attorneys General we’ve had the past two decades, this is a big win for America.
#BREAKING REPORT: Elon Musk is threatening to fund primary challengers against Congressmen and Senators who go against the Trump agenda, per multiple Capitol Hill sources
LFG!!!
Backstabbers WILL BE REMOVED. Don’t screw around!
pic.twitter.com/wR15OjSS3s
— Nick Sortor (@nicksortor) November 13, 2024
THIS is why the DC elites are so freaking terrified about Attorney General Matt Gaetz
He’s going to take a WRECKING BALL to the corrupt DOJ
LET’S GO!
pic.twitter.com/LrGQRwbPE1
— Nick Sortor (@nicksortor) November 13, 2024
Attorney General will look great on you my love
pic.twitter.com/p2yXnPpkny
— Ginger Gaetz (@GingerLGaetz) November 13, 2024
Matt Gaetz as AG has REAL potential. We needed a pit bull to hunt down and prosecute the deepstate. He's a pit bull.
Here he is eviscerating the current AG Merrick Garland six months ago.
Solid pick. pic.twitter.com/5ltLfJHD2e— Clint Russell (@LibertyLockPod) November 13, 2024
This story is breaking and will be updated with more information.
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(DCNF)—Republican Rep. Matt Gaetz of Florida came out in defense of Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Inspector General Joseph Cuffari in a Monday letter after an independent panel and several lawmakers called for his “politically convenient” removal.
Cuffari, whose investigations have been critical of the border crisis and security failures that led to the first assassination attempt against former President Donald Trump as well as the federal response to Hurricane Helene, has faced calls to resign after a Wednesday report from the Council of the Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency (CIGIE) alleged that he “abused his power” during “retaliatory investigations” against former employees. Gaetz called this investigation’s timing “telling” and “gross,” saying that his removal “would look like a cover-up,” according to the letter obtained exclusively by the Daily Caller News Foundation.
“You have independent oversight over the nerve center of the D.C. swamp, and the knives are out for you,” Gaetz said in the letter. “I am very concerned that Vice President Harris and others who want to cover up the open border and the assassination attempts on former President Trump will be calling for your firing and privately leaning on President Biden to remove you.”
After the report was released, Democratic Reps. Jamie Raskin, who serves as ranking member for the House Committee on Oversight and Accountability, and Bennie Thompson, who serves as ranking member for the House Committee on Homeland Security, called on Biden to remove Cuffari, who was appointed by Trump and confirmed in 2019.
“In the wake of the independent and nonpartisan CIGIE Integrity Committee’s report documenting IG Cuffari’s misconduct, we call on President Biden to remove him as inspector general of DHS,” Raskin and Thompson said in a joint press release. “CIGIE’s report confirms the findings of our own multi-year investigation, which is that DHS Inspector General Cuffari misled Congress during his confirmation to become an inspector general and, after becoming an inspector general, once again misled Congress and proceeded to blatantly abuse his powers and waste millions in taxpayer dollars.”
Gaetz pushed back in the letter and pointed out that both he and FBI Director Christopher Wray object to Cuffari’s removal.
“It would look like a cover-up on the part of President Biden and Vice President Harris,” Gaetz said in the letter. “Given two assassination attempts on former President Trump, your continued oversight responsibilities related to the Southern border crisis, and now the numerous whistleblowers coming forward about FEMA mismanagement of the Hurricane Helene response, removing you might be politically convenient for those in power, but Americans would see it as a dirty trick.”
“It is telling, and rather gross, that this report comes out right before the November election,” Gaetz said in the letter. “After all, your office has oversight over parts of the Department of Homeland Security that might be asleep at the wheel as our election technology is penetrated by foreign adversaries.”