Trump challenges the Republicans early with defiant nominations

by Junna Base November 14, 2024

WASHINGTON (AP) — Just hours after Republican Sen. John Thune took office elected as the new Senate Majority Leader On Wednesday, President-elect Donald Trump presented him with one of his first tests – an announcement that he plans to controversially nominate Rep. Matt Gaetz for Attorney General.

The Florida Republican is one of the most widely disliked members of Congress, including among Republican lawmakers, after spearheading the effort oust House Speaker Kevin McCarthy last year. He spent his career as a congressman agitating against the Justice Department and was under indictment Investigation of house ethics He was under investigation into whether he had committed sexual misconduct, used illegal drugs, accepted improper gifts and attempted to obstruct government investigations into his conduct. Gaetz denies the allegations.

Asked about the nomination as he exited a Senate vote, Thune smiled and declined to answer. “That’s probably a good question for the chairman of the Judiciary Committee,” he said.

An hour earlier, the Judiciary panel’s likely incoming chairman, Republican Sen. Charles Grassley of Iowa, also deflected, saying he didn’t know Gaetz but would consider the nomination. “Don’t ask me any more questions,” Grassley said.

It’s a familiar stance for Republican senators who have spent the last eight years dodging questions about Trump and defending him even after he sought to overturn his 2020 election defeat and his supporters violently stormed the US Capitol. But now that he has been decisively elected to a second term, the stakes are even higher. Republicans in Congress did it gathered around him intenselyThey are betting their political future on his success.

Two months before Trump even takes office, he is already daring congressional Republicans to defy him by nominating potentially controversial figures to his Cabinet – including Gaetz, the former Democratic House member. Tulsi Gabbard to director of national intelligence and conservative media personality Pete Hegseth for the Minister of Defense. On Sunday, Trump said in a post

“I think it’s a bit of a test,” said Republican Sen. Kevin Cramer of North Dakota, who called the Gaetz nomination a “Hail Mary” pass from Trump. Cramer said he viewed Gaetz as a disruptive force in the House and was concerned about the “serious allegations” against him, but did not say he would not vote for his confirmation.

“It’s going to take a lot of political capital to get him over,” Cramer said, adding that “there will forever be tensions between the branches.”

It is unclear how much political capital Trump will have to expend to enforce his decisions – or whether it will even be necessary. Republicans will have a 53-seat majority in the Senate next year, giving them room to lose some votes.

Immediately after being elected as the new GOP leader, Thune indicated that the Senate would not completely give up its power to consider nominations — but kept the door open for Trump’s proposed changes.

“The Senate has an advise and consent rule in the Constitution,” Thune said, adding that Senate Republicans will do everything they can to get Trump’s nominees into place quickly.

“How that happens remains to be seen,” Thune said.

While Trump’s announcement about Gaetz sent an immediate shockwave through Capitol Hill, many Republican senators tasked with confirming him were hesitant to publicly criticize the pick.

Texas Sen. John Cornyn, a member of the Judiciary Panel, said he knew Gaetz “other than his public persona” and said he would not prejudge “any of these” nominations.

Wyoming Sen. John Barrasso, who was elected Wednesday to be the No. 2 Republican in the Senate next year, would only say that Trump “will continue to make his appointments.” We continue to look forward to them coming to the Senate , hold hearings and get his Cabinet confirmed as quickly as possible.”

“I have nothing for you,” said Sen. Katie Britt, a Republican from Alabama. “We’ll see,” Sen. Ron Johnson of Wisconsin said when asked if he would support Gaetz’s confirmation.

Some Republican senators praised Gaetz, who resigned from the House shortly after the announcement, ending the House ethics investigation and making room for a replacement to be chosen before the new Congress is sworn in on Jan. 3.

“I’ve known Matt for a long time, we’re friends,” said Florida Sen. Marco Rubio, who was nominated for secretary of state on Wednesday but was instead inundated with questions about Gaetz. “I think he would do a very good job for president.”

Gaetz is “a smart, smart guy,” South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham said, although he said, “He’s going to have to answer some tough questions in the hearing, and we’ll see how he does.”

Other Republican senators like Cramer were skeptical but did not say they would oppose his nomination.

Gaetz “will have a lot of work to do,” North Carolina Sen. Thom Tillis said, adding that it “should lead to a popcorn confirmation hearing.”

Maine Sen. Susan Collins said she was “shocked” by Gaetz’s nomination.

“I recognize that the president-elect has the right to nominate whomever he wants, but we in Congress have a responsibility under the Constitution and our advice and consent, which leads to hearings, an FBI background check and a lot of questions “is asked in this case,” Collins said.

Gaetz has vehemently denied any wrongdoing, and said last year that the Justice Department’s investigation into allegations of sex trafficking of underage girls had ended without any federal charges being filed against him.

The Democrats were horrified.

“This nomination is the first test of whether Republicans are willing to stand up to Donald Trump and follow conscience and conviction rather than just politics,” said Connecticut Sen. Richard Blumenthal, a Democratic member of the Judiciary panel.

New Mexico Sen. Martin Heinrich, D-N.M., was even more blunt.

“People voted for cheaper eggs no matter what the fuck that is,” he posted on X, referring to last week’s election.