that of Donald Trump choice of Matt Gaetz Being attorney general has shaken many Justice Department employees, worried not only about their own jobs but also about the future of the agency the Trump loyalist has railed against.

The president-elect’s choice of the Florida Republican caused shock throughout the Cabinet department, given Gaetz’s lack of law enforcement experience and the fact that he has previously been the subject of a federal investigation into sex trafficking. Names of well-known veteran lawyers had been circulating as possible candidates for the position, but Gaetz’s selection was widely interpreted as an indication of the importance Trump places on personal loyalty and of Trump’s desire to see a disruptor lead a department. who for years investigated and finally indicted him.

Career department lawyers interviewed by The Associated Press, all of whom spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to share their feelings publicly, described a widespread sense of bewilderment, even outrage. , facing the nomination. They said they were inundated with calls and messages from colleagues as soon as the news broke.

Some within the department were not immediately sure whether Gaetz, who graduated from law school in 2007 but spent most of his career as a lawmaker, including in Congress, was even a lawyer. And some are already looking for new jobs as concerns grow over Gaetz’s rhetoric about continuing the “deep state.”

Trump described Gaetz as the ideal person to “root out systemic corruption” within the agency, end “militarized” government and “restore Americans’ gravely broken faith and trust in the Department of Justice.” Trump has not yet announced a similar change at the top of the FBI, although there could be one given his long-standing criticism of the director. Christopher Wray.

Gaetz has faced continued scrutiny in a federal sex trafficking investigation that ended without criminal charges. Before his resignation from the House on Wednesday, he was under investigation by the House Ethics Committee, which was examining whether he engaged in sexual misconduct and illegal drug use , accepted inappropriate gifts and attempted to obstruct government investigations into his conduct.

President of the House Mike Johnson said Friday he would “strongly request” that the House committee not release the results of its investigation, pushing back against senators who are demanding access now that Gaetz has been chosen as attorney general.

Gaetz has denied all allegations. On Friday, he posted on X, formerly Twitter, that “lies were being weaponized” in an attempt to destroy him.

Justice Department employees were already preparing for a major shakeup of the agency’s agenda on civil rights and other issues before Trump picked Gaetz to become the top federal law enforcement official of the country.

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