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LAST UPDATE | 14 Nov 2024
AMONG DONALD TRUMP’S unexpected cabinet choices, none has been greeted with more shock and bafflement – from Republicans as well as Democrats - than the nomination of right-wing firebrand Matt Gaetz to head the Justice Department.
As attorney general, Gaetz, a 42-year-old congressman from Florida with scant legal credentials, would head the law enforcement agency that until recently had been investigating him for alleged sex trafficking.
He resigned from the US Congress yesterday, almost immediately after incoming US president Trump nominated him for the role.
His resignation launched an eight-week timeline to fill his seat, according to House Speaker Mike Johnson. Yesterday, Republicans secured a majority in the House, completing a clean sweep against the Democrats. But the majority is on a knife-edge.
Gaetz, who is fiercely loyal to Donald Trump, was under investigation by the House Ethics Committee in relation to alleged sex trafficking, sexual misconduct and drug use.
However, by stepping down the bipartisan panel no longer has jurisdiction over Gaetz, deeming the probe and the subsequent report effectively dead.
Illinois Democratic Senator Dick Durbin, the sitting chairman of the Senate’s Judiciary Committee, has called for the House Ethics Committee “to preserve and share their report and all relevant documentation” on Gaetz.
Moderate Republican senator Susan Collins of Maine told reporters she was “shocked” by the choice of Gaetz and “there will be a lot of questions raised” at his Senate confirmation hearing.
Democratic Senator John Fetterman of Pennsylvania called the selection of Gaetz “God tier level trolling” by the president-elect and said there was no chance he could muster the 51 votes needed to be confirmed by the Senate.
A no-holds-barred Trump loyalist, Gaetz is a polarizing and reportedly widely disliked figure in the halls of Congress — even in his own Republican Party.
He has a law degree from William & Mary but worked only briefly as an attorney before being being elected to the House of Representatives in 2016.
As a lawmaker, Gaetz has reveled in the role of right-wing provocateur, backing Trump’s false claims he won the 2020 election, downplaying the violence of the January 6, 2021 attack on the US Capitol by Trump supporters and leading the ouster of fellow Republican Kevin McCarthy as House Speaker last year.
Trump has called for retribution against many perceived political foes whom he baselessly accuses of wielding the might of the Justice Department against him in politically motivated prosecutions.
Democrats fear that Gaetz (42) will help him weaponize the department to launch exactly those types of “show trial” prosecutions.
As attorney general, Gaetz would drive all aspects of the work of the Justice Department, which for years has carried out an investigation into sex trafficking and obstruction of justice allegations involving him.
Police began looking at Gaetz as they were investigating his friend, former tax collector Joel Greenberg, who was sentenced in 2022 to a prison term of 11 years after admitting to sex trafficking a minor and other charges.
In September, Gaetz said in a statement he would no longer help congressional investigators, accusing them of leading a “political payback exercise” and calling the probe “uncomfortably nosy.”
CNN, citing unnamed sources reported that House Republicans were meeting behind closed doors when news of Gaetz’s nomination emerged – prompting “an audible gasp from the members in the room.”
Republican Iowa Senator Joni Ernst said Gaetz would have “his work cut out for him,” according to Scripps News, which also reported that the party’s Alaska Senator Lisa Murkowski said: “Do you think he’s a serious candidate? Not as far as I’m concerned.”
A third senator from the party’s political middle, Susan Collins, told reporters she was “shocked” by the announcement.
“That shows why the advice and consent process is so important, and I’m sure that there will be a lot of questions raised at his hearing.”
Gaetz will likely only be able to lose three Republicans and still get the green light from the Senate.
With reporting from PA and Cormac Fitzgerald
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Great news story, a lovely read for a Friday :-)
Fair play to them.
who would thumbs down that comment, wankers!
Fair play lads, I wish you much success.
Thats the sort of innovation Ireland needs.
And they have to leave Ireland, wish they could of stayed in Ireland
Congrats to @patrickc and brother John Collison @collision on latest $18m funding!
This isn’t Twitter you know
Delighted to see these two brothers getting on so well.I am sure they will go far. Fair dews to them.
Fair dues
I stand corrected
They deserve it. Their main product has removed one of the last barriers to market for anyone setting up a new business or wanting to operate a small business. Brillant.
Spot on Peter.
Couldn’t be happier about this. Great people, great product, great investment.
Really amazing entrepreneurial spirit but wish it could have been further developed in Ireland rather than California :)
Why can’t we make it attractive for guys like that to start up/ keep their business in Ireland . What are the politicians doing??
I dont think it can be entirely blamed on politicians..I dont think Ireland has the same startup environment that california has…and I think its a lot to do with our attitude towards entrepreneurs…and lack of VC funding perhaps..I think to imitate an environment like california, Ireland needs a spark, and for lots of people to take risks, both on their own ideas and on other peolpes…and also to think big, these guys obviously have done that but id say they are one of very few in Ireland. Maybe the draw of having like minded people around is what took them to the US?
First time I’ve ever seen a story on the Journal without a single “thumbs down” good work lads.
of course just as I send my comment…………ah well, still a great story
Great news hope it goes well for the young men,best of luck,it’s what Ireland needs at these times
Chris money doesn’t buy genius it’s fairly obvious these boys are something special really proud of them all do I don’t know them
Congratulations to them ! It’s a shame they couldn’t be incorporated in Ireland and employ Irish people, but the truth of the matter is that our universities are not producing graduates of the calibre required to start a tech company and guide it to success .
A corollary to that is the total funding vacuum that exists for tech startups in Ireland , whether it is venture or angel investment. Enterprise Ireland lack the domain knowledge required – a software startup costs peanuts to fund initially ; most of the cost goes on rent and food but EI and their ilk want to give you way more money than you need in exchange for way more equity than you want to give away, on top of ridiculous conditions like needing to hire a minimum number of people and spend a minimum amount which you will then be reimbursed for.
We will never have a so called smart economy if this doesn’t change and we will continue to produce mickey mouse companies that turn a tiny profit and hire a tiny amount of staff.
I don’t agree 100% with the calibre of graduates in Ireland. i think that the problem is more so the numbers of people doing IT/science subjects. There are some pretty smart people coming out of some pretty good courses at the moment but nowhere near enough.
Very well said Eric. The government should make it easier for the existing it contract development community to setup business and go it alone. I have 12 years experience lots of good ideas but I can’t take s year off ti try something without
Free office rent
A grant of about 45 k a year
And free access to broad band and hardware
Give me that enda and in 5 years I would employ at least 5 if not mire people
The thumbs down on the site is getting a bit ridiculous.
@ Chris Gardner – Your very much mistaken these guys went to a public school in Limerick, if their parents wanted elite education for them they could have sent them to Glenstal not far away. The only downfall with this type of talent in Ireland is that we don’t know how to nurture them past the R&D stage. These guys are in the mould of Gates & Zuckerberg,just a shame we couldn’t keep them but the v best of luck to them.
These Brothers while they deserve their hard work it must be pointed out that they came from an enormously priveleged family with basically unlimited resources. They were destined to do well getting every and all help along the way. Not the story of the vast majority of irish young men. As I said I am thrilled they are doing well but I and millions like me never had these priveleges growing or resources. Its a pity all Irish school goers do not get the same equalities and indeed come to school facing enormous disadvantages, We won’t be reading about them anytime soon.
Well done lads.
There should be a http://www.coderdojo.com in every town/village in the country! Time to ditch fable studies and get programming languages into schools!
OMG lads yis are a legend, well done, I’m as proud of you both as if I were your mother! Wonderful…
They’re set up for life then! Well done to them!
Congratulations to you both
The very highest levels of protection must be provided for intellectual property such as this for the most obvious of reasons. I’m certain that the naysayers and petty critics who believe that it’s acceptable practice to thieve from owners of such valuable property will slink to the sidelines while these young lads bask in well deserved glory.
Fantastic achievement lads…well done!
Your welcome Palo Alto, California.
“You’re welcome” dummy
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