Scott Jennings says he ‘doesn’t know how successful’ Trump will be at getting Gaetz for AG role
CNN pundit Scott Jennings said he isn’t sure “how successful” President-elect Trump will be at getting former Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) into the attorney general position.
As controversy swirls around several of Trump’s Cabinet nominees, one that has disrupted Capitol Hill is the nod to Gaetz for attorney general, who was investigated on whether he engaged in sexual misconduct and illicit drug use, among other allegations.
The probe into Gaetz opened soon after news reports emerged that the Department of Justice (DOJ) was reportedly investigating whether he had a sexual relationship with a 17-year-old girl.
Jennings joined CNN’s Wolf Blitzer on Tuesday evening, where he was asked about the reported calls Trump was making to GOP senators in Gaetz’s favor.
“Obviously, there’s going to be tremendous resistance to Gaetz, and I don’t know how successful Donald Trump is going to be at this,” Jennings replied, highlighted by Mediaite. “I mean, this goes beyond just the handful of senators who normally have problems with Donald Trump or who have feuded with him in issues in the past.”
Jennings said, “We’ll see if Trump sticks with” his calls to lawmakers urging them to support Gaetz.
Pressure is mounting on the House Ethics Committee to release the findings of its investigation into Gaetz’s alleged misconduct, so the Senate has all information necessary to make its decision.
Gaetz resigned from the House last week, and the committee typically does not make its findings public for a former lawmaker. However, members of Congress are urging the committee to do so. The committee will meet on Wednesday to weigh its decision.
Even if the report isn’t released, Jennings argued there’s “still a lot of time” between now and when the next Congress convenes to vote on Trump’s nominations, and Trump may not want Gaetz to lose the vote and choose someone else before it gets to that point.
“At some point, when you’re the president and you’ve got a nominee for anything, you have to ask yourself ‘Do I want to suffer a defeat?’” he said. “Most people don’t get defeated; they just withdraw from the process.”
Jennings said he believes that of Trump’s controversial nominees, Gaetz is in a “separate category.”
“There’s more resistance to him than anybody else, and obviously, more issues coming out by the day,” he said.
-
Thune says he doesn't know if Gaetz will be confirmed as AG 'until they start the process'
Politics - The Hill - 5 days ago -
Trump picks Linda McMahon for education, and says he won’t reconsider Matt Gaetz nomination – live
World - The Guardian - 3 hours ago -
McCarthy says Gaetz won’t get confirmed: ‘Everyone knows that’
Politics - The Hill - 5 days ago -
LA Times owner tells Fox News he's looking for recruits 'like Scott Jennings' to balance publication
Politics - The Hill - 4 days ago -
Schiff on Gaetz’s AG nod: 'He’s not only unqualified. He is really disqualified'
Politics - The Hill - 2 days ago -
Trump taps loyalists Gaetz and Gabbard for key roles
Business - Financial Times - 6 days ago -
Rick Scott says he thinks DeSantis will pick Lara Trump to succeed Rubio
Politics - The Hill - 4 hours ago
More from The Hill
-
Ukrainians’ opinions of U.S. leadership falling: Gallup
Politics - The Hill - 1 hour ago -
Henry Cuellar: Democrats should focus on border security, cost of living rather than 'talk of joy’
Politics - The Hill - 3 hours ago -
Newsom to wait on Menendez brothers case decision until new Los Angeles DA can review it
Politics - The Hill - 3 hours ago -
Trump nominates Linda McMahon to lead Education Department
Politics - The Hill - 4 hours ago -
5 things to know about Linda McMahon, Trump's pick for Education secretary
Politics - The Hill - 4 hours ago