Future US government: Controversy over Trump’s preferred attorney general continues

No progress in the controversy surrounding Donald Trump’s preferred Attorney General Matt Gaetz: The Ethics Committee of the US House of Representatives does not want to publish its investigation report into allegations of sexual misconduct against the former representative for the time being. There was no agreement on making the report public, said committee chairman Michael Guest after a two-hour meeting. He did not explain whether the 10-member bipartisan panel had voted on publication or not.

The Justice Department and committee investigated

The long-time Congressman Gaetz from Florida is accused of, among other things, sex with a minor and drug use, both of which the 42-year-old denies. For several years, the US Department of Justice investigated him for “sex trafficking”, i.e. human trafficking for the purpose of sexual abuse, but ended its investigation without charges. The Ethics Committee further investigated the allegations and prepared a final report. Gaetz was appointed by President-elect Trump last week to lead the Justice Department.

He resigned as an MP immediately after his nomination, complicating the publication of the report. Democrats and Republicans each have five votes on the ethics committee. The Democrats are in favor of publishing the investigation report. The Republican leader of the House of Representatives, Mike Johnson, speaks out against it: He argues that it would set a precedent since Gaetz is no longer a representative. US media reported, citing a Democrat on the committee, that the committee wanted to meet again on December 5th.

Doubts about Gaetz’s suitability for the office

In view of the allegations, the most heated personnel debate is currently taking place around Gaetz with a view to Trump’s future government – as a hardliner and troublemaker, he also made other enemies in Congress. Among some party colleagues in the Senate – the chamber that usually has to confirm applicants for government posts – there are considerable doubts about his suitability for the office of justice minister. Trump’s Republicans hold a slim majority of 53 of the 100 seats in the Chamber of Congress. A few dissenters in one’s own ranks could be enough to torpedo the personnel.