Gaetz Pick Unnerves an Already Jittery Justice Dept. and F.B.I.

The New York Times ^ | Nov. 14, 2024, 2:17 p.m. ET | Glenn Thrush and Adam Goldman

[E. Pluribus Unum]

Senior law enforcement officials face a wave of uncertainty as Donald J. Trump moves to nominate a fierce partisan and a longtime ally to fill one of the most powerful cabinet posts.

Matt Gaetz, who savaged the Justice Department and the F.B.I. as Donald J. Trump’s off-leash political guard dog, faces an uphill fight to becoming attorney general. But his selection has already achieved one desired effect: intimidating an already-frazzled federal law enforcement work force.

During his campaign, Mr. Trump vowed to exact revenge against officials who prosecuted him. That threat is particularly acute for the F.B.I., which has been in his cross hairs since it opened an investigation into his campaign’s connection to Russia in 2016.

Mr. Gaetz, a former Florida Republican congressman who was the focus of a federal investigation into sex-trafficking allegations, has positioned himself as the right guy for that job, an avenger who will tear down and rebuild a Justice Department that twice indicted Mr. Trump, with the close cooperation of the bureau’s agents.

“People trusted the F.B.I. more when J. Edgar Hoover was running the place than when you are,” Mr. Gaetz told Christopher A. Wray, the bureau’s director, during a testy oversight hearing in 2023, invoking the name of its imperious and secretive founding director. “And the reason is because you don’t give straight answers.”

Whatever the outcome of his nomination, the fact that he was selected at all was intended to send an unmistakable message to the nonpolitical career officials who form the backbone of federal law enforcement: Get in line or get out — and maybe get a lawyer.

All of this has sent a wave of uncertainty throughout Justice Department and F.B.I. headquarters, perhaps unlike anything experienced by the federal law enforcement establishment since Mr. Trump fired James B. Comey,...

[E. Pluribus Unum]

Gaetz certainly has the right enemies.

[nickcarraway]

If the Democrats were smart, they would confirm him ASAP.

[Uncle Miltie]

That threat is particularly acute for the F.B.I., which has been in his cross hairs since it opened an investigation into his campaign’s connection to Russia in 2016.

The FIBs knew in advance that the Russia Collusion story was a hoax, and illegally persued it anyway.

Roast em in court and then imprison them for DECADES EACH.

[Ann Archy]

SWEAT BULLETS YOU CREEPS!

[Enlightened1]

Evil is terrified of a real Sheriff in town.

[V_TWIN]

GOOD

[Oldeconomybuyer]

Gaetz is an improvement over Garland.

[V_TWIN]

Matt Gaetz......the REAL Florida Man!

[ASOC]

Famous
But
Incompetent.

Time to clean out that rat’s nest in DC.

[iontheball]

Gaetz certainly has the right enemies.
_____________________________________
I just heard on Newsmax that both left and right on the Hill do not want Gaetz to appear and testify because both of them will get roasted/indicted in public.

[Zuben Elgenubi]

when I first joined FR in 1998, the FBI was held in very high esteem by pretty much all FR members.

I'm absolutely appalled at their behavior, particularly knowingly providing false evidence to the FISA court (which is a secret court) regarding Dr Carter Page.

[Raycpa]

The law fare process was used to intimidate Trump and now Trump uses the nomination process to intimidate the intimidators.

[right way right]

When they vote on Gaetz the snakes will be revealed.
Something we need to happen.

[Flavious_Maximus]

“...Trump vowed to exact revenge against officials who prosecuted him...”

A warning message to Glenn Thrush and Adam Goldman: You New York Times scumbags are on the list as well. ALL OF YOU are marked for liquidation.

CNN, MSNBC and the NY Sodomite Times will not exist four years from today. You heard it here first.

[clee1]

THAT is good enough reason to put Gaetz in as AG. DRAIN THE SWAMP!

[Lisbon1940]

If Gaetz fails, he could nominate Laura Loomer. If she fails, Nick Fuentes.

[M Kehoe]

Let the games begin.

And these games are for all the marbles.

5.56mm

[MeanWestTexan]

“when I first joined FR in 1998, the FBI was held in very high esteem by pretty much all FR members.”

All organizations eventually proceed to rotten, unless strictly Biblical, and even most of those eventually rot due to men.

The process of rot of the FBI and all the intelligence agencies were spurred on by Bush’s stupid power grants for the “War on Terror”. All these extra powers need to be removed.

[right way right]

Is this going to be a Televised ‘trial’ / hearing for getting senate approval on Gaetz?

I predict great TV if it does.

[grumpygresh]

I’d take a recess appointment for Gaetz. Open up investigations and release documents. Go on offense from day one.
Transparency is not vengeance.