Former representative Matt GaetzThe local Florida newspaper bluntly denounced the president-elect Donald Trumprecent judicial appointment, with the editorial board writing Thursday that the Republican “must never become Attorney General of the United States.”

Trump called Gaetz a “profoundly gifted and tenacious lawyer” when he announced his choice for the U.S. Attorney General on Truth Social Wednesday. As U.S. Attorney General, Gaetz would “eliminate systemic corruption” at the latest. Ministry of Justice (DOJ), the president-elect wrote.

Gaetz, a fierce Trump loyalist who has frequently criticized the DOJ, resigned his House seat shortly after the announcement. Meanwhile, legal experts have questioned Trump’s choice due to Gaetz’s limited legal experience and because he is asked to lead a department that has already investigated him.

South Florida’s Editorial Board Sentinel of the Sunwhich is circulating in Fort Lauderdale and Broward, Miami-Dade and Palm Beach counties, strongly condemned Gaetz in an opinion piece titled “Matt Gaetz is Trump’s tool of retaliation” on Thursday.

Gaetz, a native of Hollywood, Florida, located in Broward County, represented Florida’s 1st Congressional District in the state’s western Panhandle, where he attended high school.

The newspaper’s editorial board called the United States Senate to “prevent” Gaetz from reaching the top job, writing that “failure to do so would dishonor the country and rob the Senate of all credibility.”

Republicans won majorities in the House of Representatives and the Senate in the 2024 elections, holding at least 52 seats in the upper house.

While many Democrats criticized Gaetz’s nomination, the move surprised some. Republicans as well as Maine Republican Sen. Susan Collins, who said she was “shocked” by the nomination and expects “many, many questions to be raised” during her confirmation hearing.

North Carolina Republican Sen. Thom Tillis said he expects Gaetz will “probably have his work cut out for him” before being confirmed, adding that no “single Democrat” will vote in his favor.

News week contacted Gaetz’s former press secretary for comment via email on Sunday.

The Senate is responsible for confirming nominations by majority vote. However, playtime meetingwhich take place when the Senate is out of session, allowing appointees to bypass Senate confirmation hearings, temporarily putting them in their positions.

New Senate Majority Leader John Thune of South Dakota suggested that recess appointments could be a potential strategy to pass Trump’s Cabinet nominations.

“I think all options are on the table, including holiday appointments. Hopefully we won’t get to that point, but we’ll know pretty quickly if the Democrats you want to play ball or not,” Thune said Thursday in an interview with Fox News.

The Associated Press, citing the Congressional Research Service, reported that the former president Barack Obama made 32 appointments for vacancies, ex-president George W. Bush made 171 and former president Bill Clinton made 139 while the Senate was in recess.

“For Senators to allow Gaetz to become Attorney General through a recess appointment would be a complete abdication of the Senate’s constitutional responsibility for advice and consent,” the Senate said. Sentinel of the Sun»wrote the editorial committee.

He also noted the House Ethics Committee’s investigation into Gaetz into allegations that he “engaged in sexual misconduct and illegal drug use” and was part of a scheme that led to the sex trafficking of a 17 year old girl. He has denied any wrongdoing.

His resignation from the House concludes the investigate his alleged misconductbut the report could still be released if a majority of the commission agrees.

The newspaper called Gaetz a “rogue congressman from Florida” and a “provocateur gifted at delivering rhetorical red meat on the MAGA speaking circuit.” The editorial board added that his nomination for attorney general “highlights the depth of Trump’s contempt for our vital national law enforcement apparatus and his determination to use it as a brutal instrument to exact revenge on his opponents.

The newspaper’s editorial board concluded: “Gaetz, who called for the defunding of the FBI and other federal law enforcement agencies, should be kept as far away from the Department of Justice as possible. »