Matt Gaetz appointed as Trump’s Attorney General: details, reaction, history
14 november 2024 в 18:13
In an unexpected turn of events, Matt Gaetz was appointed as the Attorney General by President-elect Donald Trump. In his announcement, Trump praised the Florida congressman as a «defender of the Constitution and the rule of law», - adding: «Matt will eliminate systemic corruption in the Department of Justice and return the department to its true mission of fighting crime and protecting our democracy and Constitution. We need honesty, integrity, and transparency in the Department of Justice».
Over the past eight years, Gaetz has proven himself to be one of Trump’s most loyal allies in Congress, and it seems to have paid off. Although such positions are usually given to more senior politicians with extensive legal experience, Gaetz has managed to carve out his own path.
Let’s take a closer look at his legal education, political career, and the status of current investigations into his behavior.
Gaetz earned his bachelor’s degree at the University of Florida before attending the William and Mary Law School.
He received his Juris Doctor degree from the William and Mary Law School in 2007 and was admitted to the Florida Bar the following year. He then worked in private practice at a firm in Fort Walton Beach, Florida, before launching his campaign for state representative in 2010.
In 2021, the Florida Bar temporarily suspended his license due to unpaid fees, but as of November 13, he is listed as a member in good standing on the association’s website.
From 2010 to 2016, Gaetz served in the Florida House of Representatives before being elected to the U.S. House of Representatives, where he has been re-elected every two years since 2016.
Since early 2019, Gaetz has been the subject of a years-long Department of Justice investigation into allegations of human trafficking and obstruction of justice. In 2023, the DOJ concluded its investigation and decided not to bring charges. The investigation into Gaetz began as a result of an investigation into his former friend, Joel Greenberg, the former tax collector of Seminole County, who was sentenced to 11 years in prison in 2022 after pleading guilty to multiple charges, including trafficking minors and introducing a minor to other «adult men».
Subsequently, the House Ethics Committee launched its own investigation into Gaetz, examining allegations of sexual harassment, illegal drug use, acceptance of improper gifts, providing special privileges and services to individuals with whom he had personal relationships, and attempts to obstruct government inquiries into his behavior.
However, after Gaetz resigned from Congress on Wednesday, House Speaker Mike Johnson clarified that the current Ethics Committee investigation into human trafficking allegations will be discontinued, and no report will be issued.
According to CBS News, Gaetz requested a preemptive pardon from Trump for any potential crimes related to the investigation before the president left office in January 2021
Over the past eight years, Gaetz has proven himself to be one of Trump’s most loyal allies in Congress, and it seems to have paid off. Although such positions are usually given to more senior politicians with extensive legal experience, Gaetz has managed to carve out his own path.
Let’s take a closer look at his legal education, political career, and the status of current investigations into his behavior.
Gaetz earned his bachelor’s degree at the University of Florida before attending the William and Mary Law School.
He received his Juris Doctor degree from the William and Mary Law School in 2007 and was admitted to the Florida Bar the following year. He then worked in private practice at a firm in Fort Walton Beach, Florida, before launching his campaign for state representative in 2010.
In 2021, the Florida Bar temporarily suspended his license due to unpaid fees, but as of November 13, he is listed as a member in good standing on the association’s website.
From 2010 to 2016, Gaetz served in the Florida House of Representatives before being elected to the U.S. House of Representatives, where he has been re-elected every two years since 2016.
Since early 2019, Gaetz has been the subject of a years-long Department of Justice investigation into allegations of human trafficking and obstruction of justice. In 2023, the DOJ concluded its investigation and decided not to bring charges. The investigation into Gaetz began as a result of an investigation into his former friend, Joel Greenberg, the former tax collector of Seminole County, who was sentenced to 11 years in prison in 2022 after pleading guilty to multiple charges, including trafficking minors and introducing a minor to other «adult men».
Subsequently, the House Ethics Committee launched its own investigation into Gaetz, examining allegations of sexual harassment, illegal drug use, acceptance of improper gifts, providing special privileges and services to individuals with whom he had personal relationships, and attempts to obstruct government inquiries into his behavior.
However, after Gaetz resigned from Congress on Wednesday, House Speaker Mike Johnson clarified that the current Ethics Committee investigation into human trafficking allegations will be discontinued, and no report will be issued.
According to CBS News, Gaetz requested a preemptive pardon from Trump for any potential crimes related to the investigation before the president left office in January 2021
© Kolganov Andrey
