On Thursday, Republican Sen. Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.) expressed concerns to reporters about former Rep. Matt Gaetz’s (R-Fla.) chances of securing confirmation in the Senate for the role of attorney general.
Cramer questioned whether the political capital required to support Gaetz’s nomination would be worthwhile, especially given Gaetz’s resignation in the middle of an investigation by the House Ethics Committee into allegations of sexual misconduct and illicit drug use.
“I have concerns that he can’t get across the finish line, and we’re going to spend a lot of political capital,” Cramer said. “Even if it happens, you’d have to wonder if it was worth all the effort.”
Former Speaker McCarthy predicts Gaetz’s nomination will fail in the Senate
Additionally, Cramer voiced his unease about Gaetz’s involvement in the disruption of the House of Representatives during last year’s rebellion against then-Speaker Kevin McCarthy. Gaetz’s actions led to a prolonged voting process and contributed to McCarthy’s removal from the position of Speaker.
“I have concerns about the way he disrupted and really destroyed the House of Representatives for several months,” Cramer explained. “He ruined the reputation of the House to the point where they didn’t catch the wave in the most recent election.”
Cramer also aligned with McCarthy’s recent prediction that Gaetz would fail to secure Senate confirmation. In an interview with Bloomberg Television, McCarthy, who had clashed with Gaetz during their time in the House, stated that Gaetz’s nomination for attorney general was “dead on arrival” in the Senate.
“Look, Gaetz won’t get confirmed,” McCarthy said. “Everybody knows it.” Cramer agreed with this assessment, adding, “I think he’s pretty right, actually.” While Cramer acknowledged that Gaetz is “more than capable” of making a case for reforming the Department of Justice, he emphasized that Gaetz lacks the moral authority to lead such a change, particularly after his involvement in a federal sex trafficking investigation.
