LAST UPDATE | 14 Nov

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