JUST IN: Matt Gaetz Secures Powerful Endorsement For Attorney General: ‘Perfect Pick’
House Majority Whip Tom Emmer (R-MN) threw his support behind Representative Matt Gaetz (R-FL) for the role of Attorney General. Calling Gaetz the “perfect pick for the job,” Emmer praised the Florida congressman’s tenure on the House Judiciary Committee and framed his endorsement as a response to what he characterized as politicized actions by the Biden administration’s Justice Department.
“The Biden attorney general, Merrick Garland, used the office to prosecute his political opponents and to go after parents who were peacefully protesting at school board meetings,” Emmer told CNN’s Jake Tapper. “Donald Trump ran on a promise to shake up Washington, D.C. He’s doing exactly that, and Matt Gaetz is one of the examples.”
“When you look at what Matt Gaetz has done over the last, I think he spent the last six years on the Judiciary Committee, which has direct oversight over the Department of Justice and the Attorney General’s office,” Emmer said. “I think he’s the perfect pick for this job because, again, you can’t fix what’s broken by taking people from inside what they broke.”
“You’re gonna have to bring people from outside. You’re gonna have to bring change agents. At the end of the day, Jake, from outside. You’re gonna have to bring change agents. At the end of the day, Jake, they’re all going to be executing on the Trump agenda, not their agenda,” he finished.
WATCH:
Gaetz, a staunch ally of former President Trump, has been a polarizing figure in Washington. Known for his fiery rhetoric and unwavering support for Trump’s policies, Gaetz’s nomination comes as the GOP sharpens its focus on reshaping federal institutions to align more closely with the party’s priorities. The endorsement arrives amid intense scrutiny of Gaetz’s record. A bipartisan House Ethics Committee investigation into allegations against the congressman had raised concerns among some Republicans, particularly in the Senate.
For Trump and his allies, such scrutiny appears to bolster Gaetz’s image as an outsider willing to challenge the establishment.
Republicans plan to counter the “weaponization” of federal agencies under President Biden. Emmer’s comments also allude to grievances that have animated GOP critiques of the Justice Department, particularly accusations that former Attorney General Merrick Garland targeted parents protesting at school board meetings and pursued politically motivated prosecutions.
Trump’s decision to nominate Gaetz signals his determination to fill top administration roles with loyalists committed to advancing his vision for a second term. For supporters, it’s a bold move to dismantle entrenched bureaucracies.