Donald Trump picks Matt Gaetz as attorney-general

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Matt Gaetz, the firebrand Republican congressman from Florida, has been nominated by Donald Trump to be US attorney-general in his second administration, the president-elect said in a statement on Wednesday.

Gaetz is a surprise choice for the post and comes as the president-elect has vowed to overhaul the US justice department in retaliation for the criminal investigations launched against him by federal prosecutors in recent years.

“Few issues in America are more important than ending the partisan Weaponization of our Justice System. Matt will end Weaponized Government, protect our Borders, dismantle Criminal Organizations and restore Americans’ badly-shattered Faith and Confidence in the Justice Department,” Trump said on Truth Social.

Gaetz was previously under investigation by the US House of Representatives for alleged ethics breaches.

This is a developing story