Matt Gaetz simply resigned from Congress, ending a probe into sexual misconduct and drug use

Gaetz’s nomination was one in every of a number of Trump made at this time as he continues to flesh out his second administration, placing an emphasis to this point on aides and allies who had been his strongest backers in the course of the 2024 marketing campaign.

In the meantime, Republicans and Democrats are awaiting the end result of essential U.S. Home races in California, because the GOP is inside one win of sustaining management of the chamber subsequent yr.

Trump nod to Gaetz bypassed extra skilled choices in favor of a loyalist who has constructed a nationwide popularity as a disruptor and whom Trump has tasked with dramatically overhauling the Justice Division.

Trump additionally introduced that he had tapped Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida as his nominee for secretary of state. And he chosen Tulsi Gabbard, a former Democratic member of Congress and presidential candidate, to function his director of nationwide intelligence.

The alternatives continued a sample of Trump stocking his Cupboard with these he believes he can belief to execute his agenda quite than longtime officers with expertise of their fields. Gaetz’s choice, particularly, was seen as a shock. The Florida lawmaker was not among the many extra established attorneys who had been talked about as contenders for the job, and even his colleagues in Congress appeared surprised by the information.

“Everybody was saying, ‘Oh my God,’” mentioned Republican Rep. Mike Simpson of Idaho. “That was about as big a surprise as I’ve had in a long time.”

Trump introduced the choice in a put up in his Fact Social community, saying Gaetz would “root out the systemic corruption at DOJ, and return the Department to its true mission of fighting Crime, and upholding our Democracy and Constitution.”