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Former Speaker Kevin McCarthy predicted Wednesday that the Senate won’t confirm former Rep. Matt Gaetz, Trump’s attorney general pick. In an interview with Bloomberg, McCarthy praised Trump’s Cabinet choices overall, saying, “I think the choices are very good, except one.”
“Look, Gaetz won’t get confirmed,” he continued. “Everybody knows that.”
McCarthy, a loyal Trump ally, was asked why Trump would nominate Gaetz if he knew the Florida Republican likely wouldn’t be confirmed, according to The Hill.
“You can talk to [the] president, but it’s a good deflection from others, but it also gives …” McCarthy responded, cutting himself off. “I’ll let it stand at that… You’d have to ask the president, but Gaetz couldn’t win in a Republican conference, so it doesn’t matter.”
McCarthy and Gaetz have a longstanding feud. Gaetz led the effort to oust McCarthy as Speaker last fall, and McCarthy resigned from the House as a result. Despite a multimillion-dollar campaign by McCarthy and allies to unseat Gaetz in an August primary, they were unsuccessful. The two also clashed at the Republican National Convention, where Gaetz taunted McCarthy over lacking a speaking slot.
NEW: Kevin McCarthy is now saying that Matt Gaetz will not be confirmed as Attorney General.
“The choices are very good, except one. Gaetz won’t get confirmed. Everybody knows that.”
Someone is hurt. pic.twitter.com/dCSWLFyxyj
— Jack (@jackunheard) November 14, 2024
Trump’s nomination of Gaetz as attorney general surprised many Senate Republicans, with some doubting his chances of confirmation. Key concerns include a past DOJ investigation into allegations of sexual misconduct with a minor, which closed last year without charges. Gaetz has denied any wrongdoing. Additionally, a House Ethics Committee inquiry into alleged sexual misconduct and drug use could still release its findings, though the panel lost jurisdiction after Gaetz’s resignation.
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