WASHINGTON, Nov. 13 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President-elect Donald Trump on Wednesday selected hardline Republican Matt Gaetz, a congressman from Florida, to serve as attorney general in his new administration.
"Matt will end Weaponized Government, protect our Borders, dismantle Criminal Organizations and restore Americans' badly-shattered Faith and Confidence in the Justice Department," Trump wrote in a post on his Truth Social platform.
Trump has long accused Democrats of weaponizing the Justice Department while denying any wrongdoing in his criminal cases. He also vowed political retribution during his campaign.
Gaetz, a staunch Trump supporter and a conservative in the party, has called for abolishing the Justice Department, unless major reforms are made.
The position of attorney general will be pivotal to Trump's agenda for his second term, playing a key role in implementing his policies.
Gaetz gained national attention in October of last year, when he forced a vote on the "motion to vacate," which ultimately led to the historic ouster of Kevin McCarthy as House speaker.
The congressman is still being investigated by the House Ethics Committee for allegations of sexual misconduct.
Incoming Senate Majority Leader John Thune, who was selected in the party's leadership elections earlier Wednesday, said the Senate will "vet" all of Trump's nominees during the confirmation process.
"We're gonna vet and process and look at all the nominees when they come forward and we'll see," he told CNN.
A simple majority in the 100-member Senate is required to confirm the president's nominees.
According to earlier projections, the Republican Party flipped four seats from the Democratic Party in the Senate, winning back the majority in the upper chamber. With a 53-seat majority in the upper chamber, Senate approval will be easier for the president. ■
