The Case for Matt Gaetz (Not from Me)

Investigative journalist Lee Fang provides the "progressive populist" case for Matt Gaetz, whom Trump surprisingly nominated as US Attorney General today.

I’m still picking myself off the floor after President Trump’s announcement today that he is nominating US Rep. Matt Gaetz, the iconoclastic, abrasive, and highly polarizing Member of Congress from Florida’s panhandle, as Attorney General.

I don’t see a path, at least yet, to confirmation. I think it was unwise for Trump to choose such a controversial figure who will consume not only a ton of his political capital to get confirmed—if he ever does—but chew up the clock. At the same time, corrupt swamp creatures sit at the Department of Justice and enjoy the show (if not contribute to it). We may not have a confirmed Attorney General until Summer. If then.

But records matter no more than integrity and character; on that count, the jury on Gaetz is out. The guy has never managed to lead anything bigger than a 12-staff congressional office. He has only 25 months of legal experience as a junior lawyer. At least he has a law degree. His William and Mary College of Law files, including the one compiled by the FBI, will be interesting.

His House colleagues were very excited about his nomination for the same reasons New York pols were happy to see Theodore Roosevelt chosen as William McKinley’s vice president in 1900 - to get him out of their environs. I guess you have an idea how I feel about this nomination.

Plenty of ink will be spilled on the case against Gaetz in the days ahead. However, investigative journalist Lee Fang provides an interesting and detailed case for him here.

The Populist Progressive Case for Matt Gaetz