Senator Lindsey Graham's use of the term "lynch mob" to describe opposition to Matt Gaetz's nomination as Attorney General has sparked controversy. Gaetz, who withdrew his nomination amid ethical inquiries, including a federal sex-trafficking investigation, faced criticism from various quarters. The article highlights the problematic nature of using historically charged language to deflect legitimate concerns, questioning the impact on discourse about real injustices.
Matt Gaetz withdrew from his nomination for Attorney General after CNN reported new details of a sexual misconduct probe involving a 17-year-old. The report revealed a second alleged encounter, including a threesome, which Gaetz denied. He stated his withdrawal was to avoid distracting from the Trump/Vance transition. The House Ethics Committee had been investigating the allegations, but no charges were filed by the Department of Justice. Gaetz has consistently denied the accusations.
Matt Gaetz withdrew from consideration for Attorney General after CNN reported new details of his alleged sexual misconduct involving a 17-year-old, including a threesome. Gaetz cited the distraction his confirmation process was causing as the reason for his withdrawal. The House Ethics Committee and the Department of Justice have investigated the allegations, but no charges were filed. Gaetz has denied all allegations, and President-elect Donald Trump expressed support for Gaetz's decision to step down.
Matt Gaetz has withdrawn from consideration for attorney general in the Trump administration following new allegations of a second sexual encounter with a 17-year-old in 2017, as reported by CNN. The House ethics committee was informed of these allegations, which Gaetz denies. His withdrawal has been met with varied reactions from political figures and organizations, including RAINN, which emphasized the importance of accountability for survivors of sexual violence.
The House Ethics Committee is set to meet to discuss a report on allegations of sexual misconduct against former Rep. Matt Gaetz, who has been nominated by President-elect Trump for attorney general. Gaetz, who resigned from Congress, faces accusations of paying for sex and having sex with a minor, which he denies. The report's release could impact his confirmation, as even some GOP lawmakers oppose his nomination. The Justice Department previously investigated Gaetz but did not press charges. The situation is further complicated by a hacker reportedly accessing unredacted legal depositions related to the case.
Senator Chuck Grassley, the incoming Republican chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, has urged the House Ethics Committee to release its report on former Representative Matt Gaetz to expedite his consideration for the role of Attorney General. Grassley and other GOP senators, including John Cornyn and Markwayne Mullin, believe the report is crucial for evaluating Gaetz's fitness for the position, given allegations of sexual misconduct and drug use. However, House Speaker Mike Johnson and other Republicans oppose releasing the report, arguing it sets a bad precedent for former lawmakers.
U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville stated he will not support Matt Gaetz's nomination for U.S. Attorney General if allegations of sex abuse against Gaetz are proven credible. Gaetz, who resigned from Congress after being nominated by President-elect Donald Trump, is under investigation by the House Ethics Committee for allegedly assaulting a minor. Tuberville emphasized that Gaetz's confirmation hinges on the outcome of these allegations. The House Ethics Committee is debating whether to release a report on the allegations, with some conservatives opposing its public release.
Senate Republicans have expressed to Donald Trump that his choice of Rep. Matt Gaetz for attorney general is unlikely to be confirmed, citing concerns over Gaetz's controversial reputation and potential political fallout. Despite Trump's push for Gaetz, many Republicans fear the nomination process could be damaging, especially with upcoming elections. The Senate Judiciary Committee is expected to scrutinize Gaetz's background thoroughly, including allegations of misconduct, which he denies. Trump's ally, Elon Musk, has publicly supported Gaetz, but the nomination faces significant opposition.
Matt Gaetz faces an uncertain path to confirmation as Attorney General, with nearly a dozen GOP senators hesitant to support him amid ongoing House Ethics Committee investigations into allegations of misconduct, including having sex with a minor. While some Trump-aligned senators back Gaetz, others await the Ethics report's findings. The Senate Judiciary Committee may conduct its own investigation if the report remains undisclosed. Gaetz and Trump are lobbying senators, but the nomination remains contentious, with Democrats seeking alternative ways to challenge it.
Two women testified to the House Ethics Committee that Matt Gaetz paid them for sex, with one witnessing him with a 17-year-old. The committee cross-referenced their claims with Gaetz's Venmo records. Gaetz, who resigned from Congress after being nominated as Attorney General by President-elect Trump, denies wrongdoing. The ethics investigation is stalled due to his resignation, but there are calls to release the report. Gaetz's nomination has sparked controversy, with Trump supporting him despite the allegations.
Speaker Mike Johnson stated he has not discussed the House ethics report on former Rep. Matt Gaetz with President-elect Donald Trump, despite requesting the report not be released. Johnson argues that since Gaetz resigned from Congress, the report should remain unpublished, adhering to the tradition that the House Ethics Committee's jurisdiction doesn't extend to non-members. This comes after Trump nominated Gaetz as Attorney General, raising concerns about his Senate confirmation due to past allegations. Johnson also avoided committing to supporting recess appointments for Trump's nominations.
Meghan McCain criticized Speaker Mike Johnson for attempting to block the release of a House Ethics Committee report on Matt Gaetz, who is Donald Trump's nominee for attorney general. Gaetz, who resigned from Congress amid allegations of drug use and sex with a minor, has sparked controversy across the political spectrum. McCain's comments follow her husband Ben Domenech's harsh critique of Gaetz, highlighting widespread Republican disapproval of the nominee.
A woman has testified to the House Ethics Committee that she witnessed former Rep. Matt Gaetz having sex with a minor, according to her lawyer. This testimony is part of an investigation into allegations that Gaetz, who has been nominated by Donald Trump for Attorney General, had a sexual relationship with a 17-year-old and violated sex trafficking laws. The investigation is linked to a separate probe involving Gaetz's associate, Joel Greenberg, who was convicted of underage sex trafficking. Gaetz's resignation from Congress complicates the committee's jurisdiction, but there are calls for the report's release.
An attorney representing witnesses in the House Ethics Committee's investigation into former Rep. Matt Gaetz is urging the release of the committee's report, claiming one witness testified to seeing Gaetz engage in sexual activity with a minor. Gaetz, who denies the allegations, was recently nominated by President-elect Trump for Attorney General. The Justice Department previously declined to charge Gaetz after a lengthy investigation. The call for transparency comes amid concerns over Gaetz's potential appointment and the ethics of withholding the report now that he has resigned from Congress.
The House Ethics Committee canceled a meeting on its investigation into former Rep. Matt Gaetz after he resigned from Congress following his nomination for attorney general by President-elect Trump. The committee was investigating allegations of sex trafficking and other misconduct, which Gaetz denied. The cancellation ends the probe as Gaetz is no longer under the committee's jurisdiction, though Democrats are exploring ways to release the report, which could impact his nomination.