Huge Development Unfolding as Trump "May Have to Withdraw" One of His Key Nominations

Former GOP Representative Charlie Dent is suggesting that President-elect Donald Trump's recent decision to appoint Rep. Matt Gaetz as Attorney General may need to be “withdrawn.”

“Trump announced his intention to nominate Gaetz as the head of the Department of Justice on Wednesday,” according to Newsweek. The Florida congressman subsequently resigned, reportedly “just two days before the House Ethics Committee was set to decide on releasing a ‘highly damaging’ investigation into him,” the report added, citing informed sources.

Gaetz has been under scrutiny due to allegations of involvement in a scheme that involved the sex trafficking of a 17-year-old girl. The Ethics Committee began investigating Gaetz in June, examining claims of sexual misconduct, illegal drug use, improper gift acceptance, and efforts to obstruct investigations into his conduct. Gaetz has consistently denied all allegations of wrongdoing, as reported by Newsweek.

During an appearance on CNN, host Anderson Cooper asked Dent, a known Trump critic, if he thought Gaetz’s nomination might be “too far” for GOP senators to support.

“Oh goodness, yes,” Dent responded. “This is a gobsmackingly bad nomination. In the words of Chevy Chase, I'd be less surprised if my face was stapled to the floor. This is a really poor choice.”

Dent went on to say, “I can’t imagine any circumstance under which Matt Gaetz would be confirmed. I suspect that Donald Trump will have to withdraw this nomination.”

Dent isn’t the only Republican voicing concerns about Trump’s pick for Attorney General. Sen. Susan Collins from Maine expressed being “shocked” by the nomination, remarking, “This is why the Senate’s advice and consent process is so important. I’m certain there will be many, many questions raised during Mr. Gaetz’s confirmation hearing.”

On Wednesday night, Speaker of the House Mike Johnson confirmed Gaetz’s immediate resignation, stating, “He issued his resignation letter effective immediately. That caught us a bit off guard.” Johnson also mentioned that under Florida state law, an eight-week process will be initiated to fill the vacancy, with hopes of having the new representative in place by January 3.

This development follows Trump’s formal nomination of Gaetz as Attorney General. Trump stated, “It is my Great Honor to announce that Congressman Matt Gaetz, of Florida, is hereby nominated to be The Attorney General of the United States.” He praised Gaetz as a “deeply gifted and tenacious attorney” trained at William & Mary College of Law, highlighting his dedication to reforming the Department of Justice.

Gaetz responded on X with, “It will be an honor to serve as President Trump’s Attorney General!”

In another development on Wednesday, pro-Trump figures Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy were appointed to lead Trump’s newly created Department of Government Efficiency, a move Trump announced in a Tuesday statement. Both Musk and Ramaswamy had publicly advocated for reducing federal government scope and power during Trump’s campaign.

Trump wrote on Truth Social, “I am pleased to announce that the Great Elon Musk, working in conjunction with American Patriot Vivek Ramaswamy, will lead the Department of Government Efficiency [DOGE].”

DOGE, also the name of a cryptocurrency Musk has frequently promoted, will be tasked with dismantling government bureaucracy, reducing excess regulations, and restructuring federal agencies. According to ABC News, this department will function as an advisory body, providing guidance in partnership with the White House and the Office of Management and Budget.

Musk added, “‘This will send shockwaves through the system, and anyone involved in Government waste, which is a lot of people!’”