Full disclosure: Let me preface this analysis by stating, I have never been a supporter of former Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL). Prior to Donald Trump’s unfortunate nomination of Gaetz last week, I have only mentioned him once in the past four years — and then just a brief reference as a self-centered congressional “showboat.”

Until Trump made his AG announcement, I was tracking with his nominations. “Trump needs to clean up the DOJ and its pockets of corrupt deep state actors,” I noted, “but that will take somebody with impeccable character and gravitas, and I believe Gaetz has substantial deficits on both counts.”

One of many reasons I think Gaetz was the wrong nominee: He has been under investigation by the REPUBLICAN House Ethics Committee since they took control of the House for a list of issues. Among the allegations is the case of a minor who may have been sexually trafficked by Gaetz. His close friend Joel Greenberg has already pleaded guilty in connection with that case.

As I wrote last week, “I do not know the facts, but Gaetz’s quick resignation from Congress closed the ethics investigation, preventing release of the House report on Gaetz two days before it was scheduled to drop.” That timing was, at best, suspect, given reports that the victim and witnesses spent days testifying before the Ethics Committee. The assumption is that the Senate would have requested the release of the report during its confirmation hearings, which then opened the prospect of a recess appointment.

Yesterday, Gaetz was on Capitol Hill knocking on Senate Republican doors for support, with the help of JD Vance dutifully backing a Trump nominee. About 12 hours later, Gaetz suddenly withdrew his name from consideration.

This withdrawal came a day after the House Ethics Committee decided it would not release the Gaetz report, so that may have been a quid pro quo for Gaetz’s removing himself from consideration.

More likely, Gaetz’s clock ran out because more details are being released by the attorney of Gaetz’s alleged victim(s), now affirming their testimony of multiple accounts of underage girls being flown to New York and the Bahamas by Gaetz for sex parties (trafficking). There is currently a civil suit by an alleged victim, which is making those accounts public.

For his part, Gaetz said, “While the momentum was strong, it is clear that my confirmation was unfairly becoming a distraction to the critical work of the Trump/Vance Transition.” To be clear, the day after his nomination was announced, I wrote, “If Gaetz had an ounce of integrity and humility, he never would have allowed his name for consideration.”

According to Trump: “I greatly appreciate the recent efforts of Matt Gaetz in seeking approval to be Attorney General. He was doing very well but, at the same time, did not want to be a distraction for the Administration, for which he has much respect. Matt has a wonderful future, and I look forward to watching all of the great things he will do!”

That response is both conciliatory and necessary, especially for the Gaetz “true believers.” Notably, Trump didn’t pull out his first-term torch to go after Gaetz’s accusers.

Two key points I would make about this unforced error by Trump.

First, in the wake of Gaetz’s withdrawal, we learned some important things about Trump’s incoming leadership temperament. I first noticed these changes after the Butler, Pennsylvania, assassination attempt.

Trump had a blind spot on this one, but I think letting Gaetz depart says something VERY positive about Trump and those advising him: He is teachable this time around. He didn’t deploy his “everybody go to hell” scorched-earth strategy but instead let Gaetz go quietly.

This is shaping up to be a challenging but very good presidential term, and the shift in temperament is a very positive development.

Second, in multiple conversations with friends who are high-level Trump campaign supporters, there is concurrence that this is the BEST news we have heard since Trump won the election two weeks ago.

To be clear, I get why Trump appointed Gaetz. He wanted a bomb dropper at DOJ.

One of the things I like best about Trump: The day he arrived in DC, he dropped a bomb on the Beltway status quo in Congress and its special interests. He dropped a bomb on the regulatory behemoths and their bureaucratic bottlenecks. He dropped a bomb on the trade and national security institutions and alliances that had failed miserably over the previous eight years. And he dropped a bomb on all the pundits and mainstream media outlets.

This is what America needed then and needs again now. But Gaetz was not and never has been a bomb — he was and remains a dud.

So, where does Gaetz go from here?

At the moment, Trump, congressional Republicans, and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis are free of what a young female Trump supporter in our family labelled, “Gaetz-gate.”

While there was speculation that he might return to the House seat to which he was recently reelected, Gaetz says he will not return to Congress. That would, after all, reignite the ethics investigation.

Finally, as for who Trump would nominate next for AG, I was thinking maybe Josh Hawley (R-MO) or former federal prosecutor Trey Gowdy.

But within hours of shaking off Gaetz, he nominated former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi, who is highly qualified in terms of experience, tenacity, character, and integrity.

Trump noted: “Pam was a prosecutor for nearly 20 years, where she was very tough on Violent Criminals, and made the streets safe for Florida Families. Then, as Florida’s first female Attorney General, she worked to stop the trafficking of deadly drugs, and reduce the tragedy of Fentanyl Overdose Deaths, which have destroyed many families across our Country. For too long, the partisan Department of Justice has been weaponized against me and other Republicans — Not anymore. Pam will refocus the DOJ to its intended purpose of fighting Crime, and Making America Safe Again. I have known Pam for many years — She is smart and tough, and is an AMERICA FIRST Fighter, who will do a terrific job as Attorney General!”

Semper Vigilans Fortis Paratus et Fidelis
Pro Deo et Libertate — 1776

(Updated)

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