In picking Rep. Matt Gaetz as his nominee for attorney general, President-elect Donald Trump is who has been seen as divisive even within his own party.
Not one of the top names seen as a likely pick for the job, Gaetz's selection was first pushed out on Trump's social media network instead of a more formal announcement from his transition team as with most of his choices.
Here are some things to know about Gaetz.
He鈥檚 had legal issues of his own
The House Ethics Committee is investigating allegations that Gaetz was part of a scheme that led to the sex trafficking of a 17-year-old girl.
In June, the committee gave an unusual public update on its review, which it said also included whether Gaetz engaged in sexual misconduct and illicit drug use, accepted improper gifts and sought to obstruct government investigations of his conduct.
The committee announced that it was no longer reviewing four other allegations involving the congressman, including that he shared inappropriate images or videos with colleagues on the House floor or that he accepted a bribe or converted campaign funds to personal use.
Gaetz has categorically denied all the allegations, which he has blamed on former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, a longtime nemesis, though the probe began before McCarthy and Republicans took the majority in the House.
In 2023, the Justice Department ended a sex trafficking investigation with no charges against Gaetz.
He's been loyal to Trump and echoed his attacks on the 鈥榙eep state鈥�
Having just won his fifth term representing much of the Florida Panhandle, Gaetz, 42, has been a frequent defender of Trump on cable news.
He traveled to New York earlier this year when Trump stood trial in his hush money case. He shared a photo of himself and other congressional Republicans standing behind Trump. His caption Trump once used to address the extremist Proud Boys: 鈥淪tanding back, and standing by, Mr. President."
At Trump's June debate with President Joe Biden, Gaetz was front and center in the spin room, talking up Trump's successes. After Biden's exit from the race, Gaetz was among those who helped Trump prepare for his subsequent debate with Vice President Kamala Harris, in which the former president made false claims about Haitian migrants eating people鈥檚 pets and other animals 鈥� claims that Gaetz, among others, had spread online.
Just hours before Trump announced his nomination, Gaetz wrote a post on X that echoed Trump's frequent claims that he has been unfairly targeted by the justice system.
鈥淲e ought to have a full court press against this WEAPONIZED government that has been turned against our people,鈥� Gaetz said. 鈥淎nd if that means ABOLISHING every one of the three letter agencies, from the FBI to the ATF, I鈥檓 ready to get going!鈥�
If confirmed as attorney general, Gaetz would have oversight over both agencies.
He has roiled other Republicans
Gaetz has been a staunch defender of Trump but at times has irked fellow Republicans, including in last year's leadership debate in the House chamber.
In early 2023, Gaetz was among a group of hard-right conservatives to oppose McCarthy鈥檚 bid for House speakership, forcing McCarthy to wait through 15 ballots of voting before earning the spot. And it was Gaetz who that ultimately to McCarthy's ouster.
McCarthy to stop the ethics complaint against him.
He's an attorney
Gaetz earned a degree from the William & Mary Law School in 2007, going on to work for a firm in Fort Walton Beach, Florida.
The Florida bar briefly suspended his license in 2021 due to unpaid fees, but the association's website on Wednesday listed him as a member in good standing.
He may have a tough road to confirmation
Most Republicans dodged direct answers about whether they supported the incoming president鈥檚 pick. The GOP will have a 53-seat majority in the new Senate and would be able to rely on Vice President-elect JD Vance to break a 50-50 tie, allowing for a handful of defections.
Texas Sen. John Cornyn, a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, said he didn鈥檛 know Gaetz 鈥渙ther than his public persona, so we鈥檒l handle it like any other nomination.鈥�
鈥淚鈥檓 not going to prejudge any of these,鈥� Cornyn said, suggesting that the Senate look closely into the House Ethics Committee probe.
South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham, also a member of the Judiciary Committee, called Gaetz 鈥渁 smart, clever guy鈥� but posited that 鈥渉e鈥檒l have to answer some tough questions in the hearing, and we鈥檒l see how he does.鈥�
Sen. Susan Collins of Maine, one of Trump's few Republican critics in Congress, said she was shocked to hear of Gaetz鈥檚 nomination, adding that, 鈥淚鈥檓 sure that there will be many, many questions raised at Mr. Gaetz鈥檚 hearing if in fact the nomination goes forward.鈥�
Sen. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, another Trump critic, said that, 鈥渁s far as I am concerned,鈥� Gaetz was not a serious candidate.
North Carolina Sen. Thom Tillis, a Republican member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, appeared to express doubts about the nomination, saying Gaetz will have 鈥渉is work cut out for him鈥� to win enough votes for confirmation.
鈥淚鈥檓 sure it will make for a popcorn-eating confirmation hearing,鈥� Tillis said.
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Associated Press writers Farnoush Amiri, Stephen Groves and Mary Clare Jalonick in Washington, and Michelle L. Price in West Palm Beach, Florida, contributed.
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Kinnard reported from Columbia, South Carolina, and can be reached at .
Meg Kinnard, The Associated Press
