Just hours after Republican Sen. John Thune was elected as the incoming Senate majority leader, President-elect Donald Trump presented him with one of his first tests — an announcement that he intends to nominate House Republican Matt Gaetz as attorney general.
Senate Minority Whip John Thune , R-S.D., meets with reporters after he was elected to succeed longtime GOP leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, at the Capitol in Washington, Wednesday, Nov. 13, 2024. Senate Minority Whip John Thune , R-S.D., walks with reporters on the way to being elected to succeed longtime GOP leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, at the Capitol in Washington, Wednesday, Nov. 13, 2024.Senate Minority Whip John Thune , R-S.D.
An hour earlier, the likely incoming chairman of the Judiciary panel, Republican Sen. Charles Grassley of Iowa, also deflected, saying he doesn’t know Gaetz but will look at the nomination. “Don’t ask me any other questions,” Grassley said.
What’s unclear is how much political capital Trump will have to expend to get his picks through — or whether it will even be necessary. Republicans will have a 53-seat majority in the Senate next year, giving them room to lose a few votes. Texas Sen. John Cornyn, a member of the Judiciary panel, said he didn’t know Gaetz “other than his public persona,” and said he won’t “prejudge any of these” nominations.
A few GOP senators praised Gaetz, who resigned from the House shortly after the announcement, ending the House Ethics investigation and making way for a replacement to be elected before the new Congress is sworn in Jan. 3.
Donald Trump Government Appointments And Nominations John Thune U.S. Republican Party General News Kevin Cramer Washington News Chuck Grassley Kevin Mccarthy Pete Hegseth Wyoming Government And Politics Tulsi Gabbard Politics
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