Scoop: Trump personally squeezes senators on Matt Gaetz
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President-elect Trump is personally calling senators to press them to confirm former Rep. Matt Gaetz to be his attorney general, according to senators who have spoken with Trump.
Why it matters: Trump is digging in on his embattled and controversial nominee and is sending an unmistakable message to Senate Republicans that he expects him to be confirmed.
- "He clearly wants Matt Gaetz," said Sen. Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), who received a call from Trump. "He believes Matt Gaetz is the one person who will have the fearlessness and ferociousness, really, to do what needs doing at the Department of Justice."
- "One thing about Donald Trump, people should never confuse his support for one of his nominees as a tactical or strategic tool for somebody else," Cramer said. "And at least to this point, he's putting his own political capital behind it."
- "And he's a pretty persuasive guy," Cramer said.
Another senator also confirmed to Axios that Trump reached out, calling on them to rally behind him.
Zoom out: The House Ethics Committee is debating whether to release its report into allegations of sexual misconduct by Gaetz.
- Multiple House lawmakers speculated that even if the House Ethics Committee does not release the report — with Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) advocating for the report to remain closed — it is highly probable it leaks to the press.
- Gaetz has denied wrongdoing.
The bottom line: The confirmation math remains tight, and Gaetz can lose just three votes in order to be confirmed on the floor.
- It's unlikely any Democrats get on board with the controversial lawmaker. Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill) said that Gaetz is the "least qualified person and most radical person ever nominated to be Attorney General.
- The Florida Republican, who abruptly resigned his House seat last week, will need to win over some lawmakers he has openly criticized in the past.
