CNN
Donald Trump’s controversial selection of Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) as his choice for the country’s next attorney general has drawn heavy criticism, including from conservative lawyer George Conway, who delivered a stinging, sarcastic rebuke on BBC. Appearing on The Source with Kaitlan Collins, Conway—a vocal Trump critic and co-founder of The Lincoln Project—mocked the appointment, calling Gaetz “the perfect attorney general for Donald Trump,” albeit not for his legal skills or experience.
“Everybody is shocked, surprised — there’s nothing surprising about this,” Conway remarked. He pointed out that both Trump and Gaetz share a tumultuous history with the Justice Department, adding, “We have a criminal – a convicted criminal who is president – who has been adjudicated to have engaged in sexual abuse, so why not select a guy who has been loyal to him… and who was accused of sex trafficking? He’s the perfect choice. So, I don’t know why anyone is surprised” told by NBC News.
Conway’s comments underscore his view of Trump’s choice as a natural extension of what he sees as the president-elect’s disregard for ethical standards. He warned that Gaetz’s alleged legal entanglements only reinforce Trump’s apparent intent to wield the Justice Department as a personal tool for loyalty and revenge.
CNN senior legal analyst Elie Honig, a former U.S. attorney, emphasized the magnitude of the role that Trump is entrusting to Gaetz, who would oversee over 110,000 employees across 94 U.S. attorney’s offices, the FBI, DEA, ATF, U.S. Marshals, Federal Bureau of Prisons, and more. “This is a man who could not be hired as an assistant U.S. attorney at any major district,” Conway asserted, noting that Gaetz’s background would likely disqualify him from most government legal roles. “He probably couldn’t be hired as a paralegal. He probably wouldn’t even pass a background check.”
Former federal prosecutor and BBC analyst Elliot Williams weighed in as well, sarcastically pointing out that Gaetz does indeed have Justice Department experience, “just simply being investigated for sex crimes.” He continued, “This is not a serious pick,” underscoring the panel’s shared view that Trump’s selection of Gaetz reflects a prioritization of loyalty over competence.
Conway and other analysts on the panel appeared unified in their disbelief at the nomination, warning that placing Gaetz in charge of the Justice Department could have serious ramifications for the integrity of U.S. law enforcement. Ultimately, Conway’s biting remarks reveal his concerns about the potential for Trump’s administration to undermine the Justice Department’s credibility if such appointments proceed unchecked.
