United States President-elect Donald Trump has announced that Republican Congressman Matt Gaetz, 42, will serve as his attorney general, a role that doubles as the country’s top prosecutor and the head of the Department of Justice.Trump announced the nomination in a post on his Truth Social platform on Wednesday, citing Gaetz’s background as a lawyer and as a member of the House Judiciary Committee.
He also indicated that Gaetz’s nomination would be part of his agenda to rout the government of perceived rivals. Trump has long accused Democrats of “weaponising” the Justice Department against him, an allegation he revisited in Wednesday’s announcement.
“Few issues in America are more important than ending the partisan Weaponization of our Justice System,” Trump wrote in his statement.
“Matt will end Weaponized Government, protect our Borders, dismantle Criminal Organizations and restore Americans’ badly-shattered Faith and Confidence in the Justice Department.”
A Trump loyalist, Gaetz celebrated his nomination on social media, calling it an “an honor to serve as President Trump’s Attorney General”.
Earlier in the day, the US representative also echoed the president-elect’s remarks about perceived bias in the government.
“We ought to have a full court press against this WEAPONIZED government that has been turned against our people,” Gaetz wrote.
“And if that means ABOLISHING every one of the three letter agencies, from the FBI to the ATF, I’m ready to get going!”
A fractious choice
Gaetz’s …