Trumps Matt Gaetz Pick Concerns Both Right- and Left-Leaning Media

President-elect Donald J.Trump’s selection of Matt Gaetz as his attorney general drew criticism from liberal media outlets and even some conservatives ones.

They questioned Mr.Gaetz’s integrity and called him a risky choice for the cabinet.Mr.

Gaetz, a staunch ally of Mr.Trump and a former Republican congressman from Florida, was the subject of a three-year federal sex-trafficking inquiry, which ended in 2023 when the Justice Department declined to bring charges.

He was also the subject of a House Ethics Committee inquiry into allegations of sexual misconduct, illicit drug use and misuse of campaign funds, among other subjects.He has repeatedly denied the accusations.He also helped lead the successful effort to oust Speaker Kevin McCarthy, a member of his own party, in early 2023.

Mr.Gaetz resigned from the House on Wednesday, effectively ending the Ethics Committee’s inquiry, after Mr.

Trump tapped him as attorney general.Liberal outlets universally criticized Mr.Trump’s choice for attorney general, focusing on the investigations into his conduct and his promotion of Jan.

6 conspiracy theories.They predicted that Mr.

Gaetz would help Mr.Trump weaponize the Justice Department against his enemies, and called him unqualified to serve as attorney general.

Mr.Trump spent time on the campaign trail promising “retribution” and payback for those who had wronged him.Some conservative commentators did praise the choice on account of Mr.

Gaetz’s fealty to Mr.Trump.

Yet others were less convinced, calling Mr.Gaetz a “terrible choice” for his alleged misconduct and bucking of party leadership.Here’s how a few outlets covered the news:FROM THE RIGHTFox News...