On October 31, 2024 my column entitled, Why I’m Voting For Donald J. Trump was published by Cowboy State Daily. I wrote the following:
Achieving the goal of returning to the rule of law, will not be easy because favoritism, corruption and “lawfare” are embedded in many agencies, departments and branches. It will require walking a very fine line, devoid of politics. To execute the duties and achieve the goal, it will be important to choose wisely when nominating the next attorney general. He must be a person of scrupulous work habit and unquestionable character and ethics.
For the reasons stated above, and because of the wisdom and good judgment already in place, I believe such a person will be sought out and found by Trump if he is elected. The nomination of an attorney general candidate will likely be the first self-imposed test of whether I chose wisely in casting my ballot.
Trump’s announcement of his intention to nominate Matt Gaetz as the Attorney General of the United States is a mistake; perhaps an understandable mistake but a mistake nonetheless. Gaetz should decline or the President-elect should withdraw the nomination. If that doesn’t happen, the Senate should withhold its Constitutionally required consent.
First, let me explain what I mean by an understandable mistake. Published news sources have recited the events surrounding Trump’s announcement.
The AG nomination was first offered to another, reportedly John Ratcliff, who declined and asked for and received Trump’s commitment to nominate him to head the CIA. Undoubtedly, Ratcliff would have been a good choice for either position.
After receiving Ratcliff’s declination to serve as AG, and while flying from Mara-a-largo with Gaetz on board, a discussion ensued about the AG appointment.
Gaetz had an opportunity to lobby for his own appointment and apparently took advantage of it. It is a logical inference that after asserting to Trump his commitment to turn the DOJ upside down, Trump asked Gaetz if he would be interested, and the rest is history.
From the day he took the oath of office in 2016, President Trump and his administration were sandbagged by the DOJ and it’s subordinate FBI. Space limitation doesn’t allow me to set forth the evidence but it’s all in the public record.
Remember FBI director Comey bragging about sneaking a couple of agents into the White House to interview General Flynn in the early days of the administration?
That sort of deceit and surreptitious behavior went on for four years of Trump’s term. After he became a political rival of the sitting Democrat President, Trump was hunted by DOJ political prosecutors and kindred souls - state prosecutors in New York and Georgia.
Remember the raid on Mar-a-largo and the rifling of Melania’s underwear drawer? Is it any wonder that Trump is hell-bent on reforming the DOJ; that he wants to turn it upside down, reforming it root and branch?
Gaetz should not be the means to that goal. He is not the change agent needed. Gaetz is not credible in a position where credibility is required. There are several reasons for this. First, his legal experience is reed thin. He practiced law for a total of two years before becoming a politician. He has more experience as a litigant than as a litigator.
Another reason: he always seems to skate on very thin ice both morally and ethically. His alleged misconduct is public knowledge – just Google his name – and the misconduct does not appear to be a “one-off”, but rather a pattern.
“Alleged” because he has not been convicted and is innocent until proven guilty. The Justice Department has not charged him though they investigated him for alleged sex trafficking.
They haven’t said why they haven’t charged him; in fact, they have said very little. That however, does not make the aroma of corruption, illegality and immorality surrounding Gaetz less pungent.
In a separate matter, Gaetz was facing possible sanctions from the House Ethics Committee in a report that was to be released within a week of this writing.
He resigned from the House upon being named Trump’s AG pick, thus depriving the House of jurisdiction in the serious matters (sexual misconduct with a 17-year-old and illicit drug use) under consideration by the committee.
Gaetz claims the allegations being considered are “invented”. The attorney for the 17-year-old high school student has called for release of the House Report, as has Senator John Cornyn (R-Texas).
The question is not whether Gaetz is guilty of any of the charges swirling around him. The question is whether the President and the American people deserve a better, untainted, qualified candidate for United States Attorney General.
Trump is obviously looking for a disrupter to head the DOJ. The DOJ needs major reform and if that is to happen, the status quo must be disrupted. However, the Department should not be destroyed, it matters how and by whom the disruption takes place.
President-elect Trump has a lot on his plate. It is only going to get more hectic as January 20th approaches.
Getting bogged down in a messy hearing over the qualifications and fitness of Matt Gaetz is not time well spent.
If Gaetz insists on a hearing, it is almost certain the House Ethics Committee Report will, in some form, be made public.
That it will be an embarrassment to Gaetz and the President-elect is a foregone conclusion. It won’t bet a “good look”.
If Gaetz is a loyal supporter of President Trump as he claims, he will withdraw his name from consideration. Regardless, he should not be our next Attorney General. You don’t drain the swamp by first throwing in an alligator.
Ray Hunkins can be reached at: Ray.Hunkins@RayHunkins.com
Ray Hunkins, a distinguished alumnus of the University of Wyoming and its College of Law, is retired from the practice of law and from his ranching, farming and livestock businesses. He has been active in Republican politics and was the Republican nominee for Governor of Wyoming in 2006
