President-elect Donald Trump had a very successful first week in Washington, before even taking office. Even his most contentious nominees did well in their Senate hearings, setting the table for a round of quick confirmations. But before the hearings even took place, the groundwork had been laid.
That groundwork was former congressman and current One America News host Matt Gaetz. His nomination to attorney general, first announced on Nov. 13 and withdrawn just eight days later, shifted the Overton window for what was an acceptable political nomination and opened the door for those who came after.
It’s a long fight yet, but if the past week provides any clue, the nomination team is well prepared.
Gaetz was already infamous in Washington circles (and beyond) for alleged indiscretions in his sex life and rumors of drug use. More than that, he’d well earned the ire of Washington politicians for his unpredictable, often populist, and always loud actions, culminating in the political assassination of Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.). Meanwhile, these same stances had made him a darling with the MAGA base.
