Donald Trump has named the controversial Florida congressman Matt Gaetz to be attorney general for his second administration.
The shock appointment aims to fill a post that had been eagerly awaited as Trump and his allies pick names for a raft of top jobs to serve under the victor of November’s US presidential election.
The post of attorney general is a powerful one and comes after a campaign in which Trump has railed – without any credible evidence – against Joe Biden’s Department of Justice as having been used against him to pursue political prosecutions.
It also comes after Trump himself has repeatedly said he may use the department to pursue his own political enemies, including Biden and his family members.
The outspoken Gaetz is a far-right firebrand in the party and an ultra-Trump loyalist with a history of having been investigated while in office. His appointment came as a shock to many observers as his name had not been at the top of any speculative lists of potential candidates.
“Are you not entertained?” said CNN political analyst and Trump ally Scott Jennings in the wake of the news.
Meanwhile, Trump heaped praise on Gaetz.
“Matt is a deeply gifted and tenacious attorney, trained at the William & Mary College of Law, who has distinguished himself in Congress through his focus on achieving desperately needed reform at the Department of Justice,” Trump said in a statement posted to his Truth Social media account.
He added: “Few issues in America are more important than ending the partisan Weaponization of our Justice System. Matt will end Weaponized Government, protect our Borders, dismantle Criminal Organizations and restore Americans’ badly-shattered Faith and Confidence in the Justice Department.”
