November 14, 2024 11:44 GMT
US: Gaetz, Hegseth & Gabbard Picks Could Spur Move To Recess Appointments (1/2)
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President-Elect Donald Trump's picks for the offices of Attorney General, Secretary of Defense, and Director of National Intelligence could spur action in the Senate to enable recess appointments given the controversial nature of each of the candidates.
- AG nominee Matt Gaetz resigned from Congress late on 13 Nov, effectively ending a House Ethics Panel investigation into his conduct amid allegations of illegal drug use and sexual misconduct. Gaetz has been one of the most outspoken House members in recent years and was a key figure in the ouster of former Speaker Kevin McCarthy. As the FT reports "Gaetz’s proposed appointment as attorney-general comes as Trump vows to overhaul the US Department of Justice in retaliation for the criminal investigations and indictments launched against him by federal prosecutors in recent years."
- Former Democrat Rep. Tulsi Gabbard's nomination to sit at the top of the US Intelligence Community has raised some concerns among moderates given her previous comments that Russian President Vladimir Putin's "legitimate security concerns" with regards to Ukraine and NATO should be addressed, and that Syrian President Bashar al-Assad is not an "enemy" of the US.
- Alongside Fox presenter and former soldier Pete Hegseth as Secretary of Defense, all three are seen above all as Trump loyalists who will be more willing to carry out the demands of the incoming president.
- These appointments stand in contrast to Trump's first-term Cabinet picks, where key offices went to candidates perceived to have more relevant experience for the role.
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