“Nobody Should Be Disqualified Because of a Media Report”: Lindsey Graham Defends Matt Gaetz Amid Scandal
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Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) dismissed concerns over the controversies surrounding former Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL), who has been nominated by Donald Trump for attorney general. When questioned about allegations against Gaetz—including sexual misconduct with a high school student—Graham stood firm in his support.
“Nobody should be disqualified because of a media report,” Graham told CNN congressional correspondent Manu Raju on Tuesday. The allegations against Gaetz, which were investigated in a bipartisan report by the House Ethics Committee, remain under wraps for now. The committee’s report is also said to delve into claims of illicit drug use and improper gifts accepted by Gaetz.
Gaetz, who resigned from Congress shortly after Trump announced his nomination, has denied all accusations, labeling them as part of a setup to extort money from him. In a related case, the FBI convicted an individual in a $25 million extortion scheme connected to the allegations. However, Gaetz himself was never charged in the FBI’s separate investigation. One of Gaetz’s associates did plead guilty, adding further complexity to the situation.
While Graham downplayed the significance of the accusations, not all Senate Republicans share his perspective. Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX), for instance, has called for the Ethics Committee report to be made available for review.
The House Ethics Committee was initially scheduled to vote on whether to release its findings last Friday, but the vote was unexpectedly canceled. A new vote is set for Wednesday, raising anticipation over whether the report will finally see the light of day.
The controversy has cast a shadow over Gaetz’s nomination and raised questions about Trump’s decision to appoint him for the nation’s top legal position. While some Republicans, like Graham, are quick to dismiss the allegations as unsubstantiated media noise, others demand more transparency before proceeding with Gaetz’s confirmation.
The ongoing debate underscores the high stakes of Gaetz’s nomination and the broader tensions within the Republican Party as it navigates Trump’s second-term appointments amid unresolved ethical and legal concerns.
