One of the nation's top conservative legal groups announced Thursday that it opposes the appointment of Attorney General Matt Gaetz, saying President-elect Trump's nominee is “morally and professionally unqualified” to be approved. . On Wednesday, President Trump nominated the former U.S. congressman from Florida to head the Department of Justice, calling Gaetz a “deeply talented and tenacious lawyer” and a “defender of the Constitution and the rule of law.” Gaetz must be confirmed by the Senate.
“There must be honesty, integrity and transparency in the Department of Justice,” President Trump said. “Under Matt's leadership, all Americans will once again be proud of the Department of Justice.”
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 13, 2024
But Liberty Counsel, a legal group that typically supports President Trump's policies, says Gaetz is not qualified and should leave. Liberty Lawyers have defended religious liberty and other conservative causes before the U.S. Supreme Court.
“President-elect Donald Trump quickly named a number of potential candidates for Cabinet positions. But Matt Gaetz is not one of them.” said Matt Staver, Founder and Chairman of Liberty Counsel. “Matt Gaetz's nomination as attorney general is shocking and disappointing to those who have followed the man and his significant sexual scandals, sex partying and drug allegations during his time in Congress.”
Gaetz resigned from Congress on Wednesday, days before the House Ethics Committee is expected to release its report on him.
“Gates' resignation so soon after his name surfaced for attorney general is inexplicable other than the fact that his resignation ends the House ethics investigation,” Staver said. “Clearly, Mr. Gates does not want America to know the results of the ethics investigation. Matt Gates has neither the experience nor the morals to serve as the United States' top law enforcement officer. Out of respect for all of America, his name should be withdrawn from consideration. It will save him a lot of embarrassment. America deserves better.”
Liberty Counsel said that as a member of the Florida House of Representatives, Gates “consistently opposed pro-family leaders and policies.”
“He allied himself with LGBTQ activists and spearheaded the repeal of Florida's law banning same-sex adoptions, which exposed faith-based adoption agencies to legal challenges.” Liberty Counsel said.
Liberty Counsel said Gates' resignation ends “an ethics investigation into his sex parties, including allegations that he paid underage girls for sex.”
“Mr. Gaetz will face tough questions at his confirmation hearing and there is a strong possibility that he will not be confirmed,” Liberty said. “His immediate resignation raises serious questions, as it comes just two days before the US House Ethics Committee was scheduled to vote to release what is expected to be a damaging report. Because it happened.”
Liberty Counsel said the news article contained “serious charges involving Mr. Gaetz, including paying women for sex and text messages, attending sex parties, and using Venmo to pay for sex to minors.” “We are compiling the following.”
“Witnesses have testified that they saw Gaetz ingesting drugs at these sex parties,” Liberty Counsel said. “And his close relationship with former Seminole County Tax Collector Joel Greenberg is what fuels these serious allegations. Greenberg is now using his position for illegal enrichment and He is currently serving a sentence for arranging sex parties for his friends.
Liberty Counsel added: “During his speech, Mr. Gaetz made three 'jokes' laced with sexual innuendo to a group of mostly Christian conservative leaders.” “The joke was shocking to those in attendance and was met with silence. He later admitted that the sexual joke didn't go over well. “It was about upholding the rule of law and protecting against sex traffickers and sex offenders. “This is not the character of the nation's top law enforcement officer tasked with prosecuting.”
Liberty Counsel summed it up as follows: “Matt Gaetz is morally and professionally unqualified to be Attorney General of the United States. This is the nation's highest law enforcement position. America deserves better.”
Gates has denied any wrongdoing.
Liberty Counsel played a key role in the landmark Supreme Court case in 2022. The justices unanimously ruled that the city of Boston violated free speech rights by refusing to allow faith-based groups to fly the Christian flag and allowing many other groups to fly their flags. was lowered. Mr. Staber gave oral argument in court and represented the organization.
Photo courtesy: ©Facebook/matt gates
michael faust has covered the intersection of faith and news for 20 years. His articles have appeared in Baptist Press, Christianity Today, Christian Post, Leaf Chronicle, Toronto Star, and Knoxville News Sentinel.
