Even Matt Gaetz's powerful father was surprised at the Trump AG pick

Source: Politico

11/17/2024 07:00 AM EST


TALLAHASSEE, Florida — Just about everyone was surprised when Donald Trump picked Matt Gaetz to be his attorney general. You can add Gaetz’s 76-year-old, politically connected and influential father to that list. Don Gaetz, a Florida powerbroker who himself was just elected to a state Senate seat, said Thursday that he and Matt’s mother — Vicky Gaetz — “really had no prior warning until Matt called us and said that the president just offered me the attorney generalship. I think it’s fair to say Matt was not seeking the job.”

The shock waves that have come from Matt Gaetz’s nomination have led to predictions that lurid details of his past activities, including a closed federal investigation into allegations of sex trafficking, could soon come to light and that he may not get confirmed by the Republican-controlled Senate.

“Matt has been investigated by the House Ethics Committee, the Department of Justice, the Federal Elections Commission and probably the Rotary Club,” said Don Gaetz, who is affectionately known as “Papa Gaetz.” “He’s been investigated by everyone for more than two years and there’s never been any reason to be charged with anything and he’s denied all these fraudulent politically motivated allegations.”

But bruising battles are nothing new for the Gaetz clan. The connection between Matt Gaetz, the self-avowed firebrand from northwest Florida who helped dump former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, and his father is strong since both have pursued the family business of politics.

Read more: https://www.politico.com/news/2024/11/17/matt-gaetz-father-trump-ag-pick-interview-00189939