Fetterman rejects Gaetz nomination for solicitor general

On By Littum

Subscribe to Fox News to access this content

You have reached your maximum number of articles. Log in or create an account for FREE to continue reading.

By entering your email and pressing Continue, you agree to Fox News’ Terms of Use and Privacy Policy, which includes our Financial Incentive Notice.

Please enter a valid email address.

U.S. Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa., described President-elect Trump’s selection of Rep. Matt Gaetz to serve as his next attorney general as a “good tier kind of trolling.”

Speaking to reporters, Fetterman acknowledged that some of Trump’s choices were good, but stopped short of placing Gaetz in that category.

“It’s like kind of trolling in a god class just to trigger a meltdown,” he said. “But really the Democrats’ opinions on Gaetz, that’s not really what’s interesting. The good ones will come from my colleagues on the other side, the GOP, about how they can justify voting for that j—off.”

TED CRUZ COMES BEHIND RICK SCOTT LEADING TO TEXAN JOHN CORNYN

Donald Trump, Matt Gaetz

President-elect Trump and Matt Gaetz (Getty)

Aside from Gaetz, Trump has nominated Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., to serve as secretary of state and Rep. Elise Stefanik, RN.Y., to Ambassador to the United Nations. These were serious choices, Fetterman said.

He also noted that Sen. Eric Schmitt, R-Mo., served as Missouri attorney general before being elected to Congress.

“He would have been a solid pick. And then you put someone like that out,” Fetterman said of Gaetz’s selection. “It’s just nothing but trolling. The interesting answers will come from my colleagues in the GOP that they will vote or justify voting for that mess.”

Gaetz may face an uphill battle to be confirmed by the Senate.

REPUBLICANS MUST REMEMBER BEHIND CLOSED DOORS TO ELECT MCCONNELL’S NEXT WEDNESDAY

Late. John Fetterman and Rep. Matt Gaetz

U.S. Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa., criticized President-elect Trump’s selection of Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., to become U.S. attorney general. (Getty Images)

“He will never be confirmed,” a Republican senator, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told Fox News Digital. Another Senate Republican source said, “It’s not going to happen.”

Gaetz resigned from the House of Representatives on Wednesday after Trump announced his nomination.

The House survey investigator Gaetz for allegations of sexual misconduct, illegal drug use and receiving inappropriate gifts.

Rep. Michael Guest, R-Miss., who chairs the Ethics Committee, said that “once a member is no longer a member of Congress, then ethics has no jurisdiction. So if Matt Gaetz were to be appointed attorney general, the ethics investigation ( which) is currently in progress would cease at that time.”

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

In addition to the ethics investigation, Gaetz was at one point investigated by the Ministry of Justice (DOJ) in a year-long investigation into allegations of sex trafficking.

Last year, Gaetz’s office said the DOJ concluded its investigation and determined he would not be charged with any crimes.

Fox News Digital’s Elizabeth Elkind, Julia Johnson and Kelly Phares contributed to his report.