Fox News's Gowdy warns GOP against 'absurd AG pick' Gaetz
Fox News host Trey Gowdy warned Republicans against supporting President-elect Trump's decision to elevate former Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) to serve as attorney general, calling the choice "absurd."
Anchor Bill Hemmer, speaking Tuesday about the ongoing legal battles Trump faces — including the classified documents and election interference cases — asked Gowdy to weigh in during his appearance on "America's Newsroom."
“Do not use the justice system as a weapon,” Gowdy, a former GOP lawmaker who represented South Carolina, responded, as highlighted by Mediaite. “And the message for Republicans is, don’t do it on the other side, either, with this absurd AG pick that you just made.”
The president-elect began rolling out his choices to fill key Cabinet and administrative roles last week. His tapping of Gaetz, a right-wing firebrand, to head the Justice Department (DOJ) has raised eyebrows on both sides of the aisle.
“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,” Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social at the time.
Gaetz, who resigned from Congress immediately after receiving Trump's nod, has previously called for taking away funds and doing away with government agencies and departments including “the FBI, CDC, ATF, DOJ, every last one of them, if they do not come to heel.”
The former lawmaker has also been under investigation for sexual misconduct and illicit drug use claims by the same agency he's been nominated to lead. Gaetz has denied any wrongdoing.
Pressure has been put on Republican leadership and the House Ethics Committee to release a report surrounding the probe of Gaetz.
While the Florida Republican has historically been a strong backer of Trump, he also has critics within his own party, most notably ex-House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.).
“Justice is different,” Gowdy said Tuesday. “It is a combination of policy, law and also morality. You do not use our justice system as a political weapon. Voters rejected it in November, and they’re going to reject it if Republicans try to do it also.”
“Some things rise above the din,” he added. “The justice system is one of those things.”
The Hill has reached out to DOJ and the Trump transition team.
-
Eye Opener: New details on allegations against Donald Trump's AG pick Matt Gaetz
Top stories - CBS News - 5 hours ago -
Trump bewilders Senate GOP with Gaetz AG selection
Politics - The Hill - 5 days ago -
Klobuchar: Gaetz is an ‘absurd’ choice for attorney general
Politics - The Hill - 3 days ago -
Gaetz pick as AG triggers audible gasp from some Republicans
Top stories - ABC News - 5 days ago -
Ty Cobb: Gaetz pick as Trump AG a 'f‑‑‑ you to America'
Politics - The Hill - 5 days ago -
Trump picking Gaetz for AG may be loyalty test for senators
Top stories - CBS News - 5 days ago -
No sign of second-guessing on Gaetz and Hegseth Cabinet picks by GOP amid controversies
Politics - NBC News - 22 hours ago -
Attorney details allegations against Trump attorney general-pick Matt Gaetz
Top stories - CBS News - 3 hours ago
More from The Hill
-
Kissinger on AI: Humanity 'trying to wield a power it cannot possibly understand'
Politics - The Hill - 28 minutes ago -
Watch live: Trump to attend SpaceX Starship's latest test launch
Politics - The Hill - 31 minutes ago -
RFK Jr. threatens America’s health
Politics - The Hill - 31 minutes ago -
Border governor says she'll work with Trump, but won't 'tolerate terrorizing communities'
Politics - The Hill - 47 minutes ago -
Big Lots plans to shutter 19 more stores as additional locations stop closing process
Politics - The Hill - 49 minutes ago