Matt Gaetzincendiary Republican congressman from Florida, was nominated by Donald Trump to be U.S. attorney general in his second administration, a surprise pick for the job that will have repercussions within Washington’s political and law enforcement establishment.

Mr. Gaetz’s nomination comes as elected president promises to overhaul the US Justice Department in retaliation for criminal investigations and charges brought against him by federal prosecutors in recent years.

“Few issues in America are more important than ending the partisan alignment of our justice system. Matt will end gun rule, protect our borders, dismantle criminal organizations, and restore Americans’ faith and trust in justice,” Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform.

Mr. Gaetz, 42, trained as a lawyer and practiced in Florida for two years before running for Congress. Since moving into politics, he has been a vocal member of the far-right coalition in Congress, supporting some of Mr. Trump’s most controversial policies and defending his actions in the run-up to the violent riot on Capitol Hill on Jan. 6, 2021.

Earlier this year, Mr Gaetz was part of a delegation of right-wing lawmakers who traveled to Manhattan to support Mr Trump during his “hush money” trial, claiming the case was being overseen by a “corrupt judge”. .

He has also used his position on the House Judiciary Committee to pursue the Justice Department on a number of issues, including the “targeting” of Elon Musk for alleged discrimination against refugees at SpaceX.

Although Mr. Gaetz is a surprising choice, the US “has a history of attorneys general who have been chosen for their proximity to the president and not for their experience in the Justice Department or in any other legal work,” said Daniel Richman, a former prosecutor federal.

Mr. Gaetz was previously investigated by the Justice Department he could lead, if confirmed, in connection with the alleged sex trafficking of a 17-year-old girl and obstruction of justice, although the investigation was dropped in 2023.

The US House of Representatives has also investigated Mr Gaetz for alleged ethics violations, including sexual misconduct, drug use and accepting gifts. He strongly denied the allegations.

Democrats were quick to react to the news. “To confirm him would be to affirm the worst potential abuses of the DOJ,” said Adam Schiff, the Democratic congressman and senator-elect from California, who helped lead the first impeachment trial against Mr. Trump.

Earlier in the day, Trump made another controversial choice, picking Tulsi Gabbard, a former Democratic congresswoman from Hawaii known for her pro-Russian views, to be director of national intelligence, in a move that could raise great concerns among the US. allies.

Ms. Gabbard’s appointment follows her rapid conversion to one of Trump’s closest allies, just four years after she ran in the Democratic presidential primary to challenge him for the White House.

“Anyone who has watched her can see that she has changed dramatically…can you trust people who have changed so dramatically in such a short period of time?” said Paul Rieckhoff, executive director of Independent Veterans of America, who worked with her on Capitol Hill.

Ms. Gabbard has a history of positions sympathetic to Moscow and Russian President Vladimir Putin, including blaming NATO and the Joe Biden administration for Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, which began in February 2022. She has also argued that the dictator Syrian Bashar al-Assad is not an “enemy” of the US.

“I know Tulsi will bring the fearless spirit that has defined her illustrious career to our intelligence community, upholding our constitutional rights and securing peace through strength,” Trump said in a statement.

Both Ms Gabbard and Mr Gaetz will need to be confirmed by the US Senate, which could be a struggle even with Republicans in control of the upper house of Congress next year.

– Copyright The Financial Times Limited