WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) – Florida’s former attorney general is President-elect Donald Trump’s top pick to lead the Department of Justice after Matt Gaetz’s sudden resignation. Pete Hegseth says his Capitol Hill meetings, chaperoned by Vice President-elect JD Vance, went well, despite a 2017 police report alleging sexual assault following a Republican women’s event.
While Gaetz is no longer in the running to be in Trump’s cabinet, some other picks are also facing controversy, as lawmakers have a lot to consider when they come back to Capitol Hill after Thanksgiving.
Now that Florida’s former attorney general Pam Bondi is the new nominee for U.S. attorney general, former Florida congressman, Matt Gaetz, who took himself out of the running for the job told conservative commentator Charlie Kirk he would not try to re-claim his congressional seat, despite his re-election, earlier this month.
Reaction to Bondi’s nomination as attorney general has been much more positive.
Alabama Republican Senator Tommy Tuberville said on X, “I look forward to the Senate quickly confirming her to be our next attorney general.”
President-elect Trump’s pick for Defense Secretary, Pete Hegseth, remains positive after his meeting with senators despite a police report revealing the details of a sexual assault allegation from 2017.
Hegseth says it’s a non-story.
“The matter was fully investigated, and I was completely cleared,” said Hegseth.
Washington state Democrat Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal is not convinced.
“I don’t know the guy, but looking at it, I’m afraid for the safety of women everywhere,” said Jayapal.
Missouri Republican Senator Eric Schmitt says he believes Hegseth is qualified.
“I look forward to talking more to Pete about what his vision is for our Department of Defense,” said Schmitt.
West Virginia Republican Senator Shelley Moore Capito says it’s President-elect Trump’s cabinet.
“The president really should have wide latitude to have a team he has great confidence in,” said Moore Capito.
President elect-Trump is expected to name former Georgia senator Kelly Loeffler to serve as Agriculture Secretary.
