Who is Matt Gaetz? Meet Trumps controversial nominee for Attorney General
President-elect Donald Trump has made another controversial decision regarding his future Cabinet by nominating controversial Florida Congressman Matt Gaetz for the position of Attorney General.
President-elect Donald Trump has made another controversial decision regarding his future Cabinet by nominating controversial Florida Congressman Matt Gaetz for the position of Attorney General.
Gaetz has served as a member of Congress since being elected to the role in 2016, but has resigned from his role following Trumps decision to nominate him as Attorney General.
If confirmed as Attorney General, Gaetz would become the top law enforcement officer in the nation, overseeing the Justice Department and the FBI.
It comes a day after Trump also made the shock decision to appoint Peter Hegseth - a man with no senior military or national security experience - as his Secretary of Defense.
So, who exactly is Matt Gaetz and why has his nomination been met with shock by both Democrats and Republicans alike?
Read on below for everything you need to know about Matt Gaetz.
Who is Matt Gaetz?
Republican U.S. Representative Matt Gaetz speaks at a campaign rally for Donald Trump in Henderson, Nevada on October 31 2024
Born on May 7 1982 in Hollywood, Florida, Matt Gaetz decided to follow in his father Dons footsteps by embarking on a career in politics.
Don served as the Member-elect of the Florida Senate from the 4th District from 2006 to 2012 - before moving to the 1st District between 2012 and 2016 after the states legislative districts were reconfigured.
Taking inspiration from his father, Matt, now 42, entered the same field after obtaining a Bachelor of Science in interdisciplinary sciences from Florida State University in 2003.
He would also go on to earn a Juris Doctor from William & Mary Law School, in Williamsburg, Virginia, in 2007.
From 2010 to 2016, Matt served as Member of the Florida House of Representatives from the 4th District, before being elected to Congress in 2016.
What role does Matt Gaetz play in Congress?
Prior to resigning in the wake of his nomination for the role of Attorney General, Gaetz served as the Republican representative for Florida in the House of Representatives.
According to a blog post on his website, his work in Congress focuses on national security, veterans affairs, and adherence to constitutional principles.
While serving in Congress, Gaetz became prominent for his controversial remarks and actions as a member of the Freedom Caucus.
After taking office during Trumps first term, he became one of the lead critics into the Russia investigations into the 45th president.
He also reportedly sought a pardon from Trump over his efforts to overturn the election, and has embraced conspiracy theories about the attack on the US Capitol.
In 2023, Gaetz spearheaded a successful effort to oust House Speaker Kevin McCarthy - and resigned from his position in Congress late on Wednesday evening after being nominated for the role of Attorney General by Trump.
What is the controversy surrounding Matt Gaetz?
In 2023, the Department of Justice decided not to charge Gaetz as part of a long-running investigation that included allegations that Gaetz was part of a scheme that led to the sex trafficking of a 17-year-old girl.
A separate probe by the House Ethics Committee - which is the very department he has been picked to lead - ended on Wednesday with Gaetzs resignation from his position in Congress.
In June, the committee gave an unusually public update on its review, which it said also included whether Gaetz engaged in sexual misconduct and illicit drug use, accepted improper gifts and sought to obstruct government investigations of his conduct.
The committee announced that it was no longer reviewing four other allegations involving the congressman, including that he shared inappropriate images or videos with colleagues on the House floor or that he accepted a bribe or converted campaign funds to personal use.
Gaetz has categorically denied all the allegations, which he has blamed on former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, a longtime nemesis, though the probe began before McCarthy and Republicans took the majority in the House.
Joel Greenberg, a former friend and ally of Gaetz, pleaded guilty to sex trafficking and was sentenced to 11 years in prison.
What role has Donald Trump picked Matt Gaetz for?
Gaetz would be responsible for overseeing the legal positions that the government takes on key issues, including abortion, civil rights laws, and first amendment issues.
The president-elect has pledged to use the justice department to prosecute his political enemies and there is little doubt that Gaetz will help him fulfill that pledge.
Despite being embroiled in controversy himself, Gaetz has remained one of Trumps closest allies as he was tried and convicted in a Manhattan criminal court of 34 counts for covering up the hush money payments made to porn star Stormy Daniels to hide an affair.
HE has consistently defended Trump and his vision for the United States during Trumps first term in office
This has seen him earn nicknames such as the Trumpiest Congressman in Trumps Washington by GQ magazine and the Trumpiest Congressman by Rolling Stone, which he considers as badges of honor.
Gaetz appeared with Trump in the courtroom and spoke on his behalf outside as the trial was taking place earlier this year.
Announcing the appointment of Gaetz as Attorney General on Wednesday afternoon, Trump wrote on Truth Social: It is my Great Honor to announce that Congressman Matt Gaetz, of Florida, is hereby nominated to be The Attorney General of the United States.
Matt is a deeply gifted and tenacious attorney, trained at the William & Mary College of Law, who has distinguished himself in Congress through his focus on achieving desperately needed reform at the Department of Justice, Trump added.
Is Matt Gaetz married?
Ginger Luckey Gaetz, 30, shared a heartful tribute to her husband after President-elect Donald Trump nominated him for Attorney General
Matt Gaetz and his wife Ginger Luckey walk down the steps of the House of Representatives on Capitol Hill following a vote on April 19, 2024 in Washington, DC
In December 2020, Gaetz announced that he would be getting engaged to his girlfriend, Ginger Luckey.
Matt has one son, Nestor, who he has described raising as the most rewarding thing Ive done in my life.
Ginger is the sister of Reality Lab (formerly Oculus VR) founder and major Republican donor Palmer Luckey - whose company specializes in virtual reality and augmented reality software.
The company was acquired by Facebook Inc, now Meta, in a deal reported to be worth up to $1.6 billion.
Gaetz - who is also a member of First Baptist Church in Fort Walton Beach, Florida - married Ginger at a ceremony in southern California in August 2021.
According to The Guardian, Ms Luckey works for a company that endeavours to extend the life of products made from plant-based materials.
