Former President Trump shocked and appalled some Republican lawmakers on Wednesday by announcing plans to nominate Rep.Ā Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) for attorney general.

Why it matters:Ā Republican reaction to even Trumpā€™s most controversial nominations has been muted so far, but placing the scandal-prone right-winger in the nationā€™s highest law enforcement role is a step too far for many.

ā€œWe wanted him out of the House ā€¦ this isnā€™t what we were thinking,ā€ quipped one House Republican, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to speak frankly about Trumpā€™s decision.

What weā€™re hearing:Ā Trumpā€™s announcement was met with audible gasps by House Republicans during a conference meeting on Wednesday afternoon, multiple sources in the room told Axios.

One House Republican in the meeting described the conferenceā€™s response as ā€œstunned and disgusted.ā€

What theyā€™re saying:Ā ā€œGaetz has a better shot at having dinner with Queen Elizabeth II than being confirmed by the senate,ā€ said Rep. Max Miller (R-Ohio), referring to the British monarch whoĀ died in 2022.

Rep. John Duarte (R-Calif.), noting that Gaetz isĀ under investigation by the House Ethics Committee, said he would be ā€œa compromised AGā€ and that ā€œthere are better choices.ā€

Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) said she was ā€œshockedā€ by the pick: ā€œThis shows why the advice and consent process is so important and Iā€™m sure that there will be a lot of questions raised at his hearing.ā€

Sen. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) said Gaetz has ā€œgot his work really cut out for himā€ to get confirmed.

  • mriguy@lemmy.world
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    2 days ago

    Sure.

    Heā€™ll be confirmed with no problem. They always give Trump whatever he wants.

    • nova_ad_vitum@lemmy.ca
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      2 days ago

      If they dare to challenge him Trump will sic his army of sycophantic lunatics on them and theyā€™ll fold. Itā€™s cute that these moronic GOP senators think they get a choice in this.