WASHINGTON, D.C. — In a surprising move during his presidential transition period, President-elect Donald Trump announced that Congressman Matt Gaetz was his pick for Attorney General. Gaetz, a staunch Trump loyalist with a history of controversies, has faced multiple scandals during his time in Congress, including allegations of sharing explicit photos on the House floor and a DOJ investigation into potential sex trafficking—issues that have led to bipartisan scrutiny of his conduct.
The House Ethics Committee had also been investigating Gaetz for allegations including sexual misconduct, illicit drug use, misuse of identification records, and potential bribery. Gaetz, who has consistently denied the allegations, claimed the probe was politically motivated. Yet the investigation was effectively dropped when Gaetz announced his resignation, allowing him to pursue his nomination without further legislative inquiry.
Gaetz has previously been criticized for several high-profile, polarizing incidents. In 2017, he was the only member of Congress to oppose a bipartisan anti-human trafficking bill, expressing concerns over government “mission creep” despite agreeing with the bill’s core objective. A year later, Gaetz caused a stir by inviting far-right internet figure Chuck Johnson to the State of the Union, raising eyebrows as other Florida representatives chose to bring guests such as hurricane survivors and families of hostages. In 2019, Gaetz was criticized for an apparent attempt to intimidate Michael Cohen, Trump’s former attorney, who was set to testify against Trump. Gaetz dismissed this as “witness testing,” though the Florida Bar investigated him and ultimately cleared him of wrongdoing.
Another widely scrutinized incident arose in 2020, when Gaetz, who was publicly known to be childless, announced that he considered a young Cuban man named Nestor his son. Gaetz claimed that Nestor, the son of a former girlfriend, had been living with him for years, though previous social media posts referred to Nestor as a “local student” and “helper.”
The most serious allegations emerged in 2021, when The New York Times reported that Gaetz was under DOJ investigation for alleged sex trafficking, including claims he paid for a 17-year-old to travel across state lines. Gaetz denied the allegations, and though the DOJ eventually closed the investigation without filing charges, the scandal tarnished his reputation. His friend, former tax collector Joel Greenberg, pleaded guilty to numerous sex crimes and implicated Gaetz, alleging that Gaetz paid him to arrange encounters with young women, including a minor. Additional reports claimed Gaetz had attended a 2017 party with drugs present and a high school student involved.
As Gaetz’s nomination moves forward, his Senate confirmation is likely to face sharp questioning from both parties over these controversies. Trump’s decision to nominate such a divisive figure to lead the nation’s top law enforcement agency has raised questions about how Gaetz’s legal troubles and public controversies align with the responsibilities of the office.