‘They’re Gonna Have To Withdraw His Nomination’: Former House Republican Says Trump’s Gaetz Pick Is Cooked

Former Republican Rep. Charlie Dent predicted that the nomination of Matt Gaetz to be the next attorney general will be withdrawn.

On Wednesday, President-elect Donald Trump chose the Florida lawmaker to lead the department. Hours later, Gaetz resigned from the House of Representatives, just two days before the chamber’s Ethics Committee was set to vote on whether to release what was described as a “highly damaging” report summarizing the panel’s investigation into Gaetz. The ex-congressman is alleged to have engaged in sexual relations with a minor and used illicit drugs.

Gaetz was also investigated by the Department of Justice, which declined to bring charges. He denies wrongdoing.

On Friday’s CNN NewsNight, host Abby Phillip asked Dent to assess Gaetz’s chances.

“You have to wonder, is there anything that would tank Trump’s nominees in this environment?” she said. “They’ve got a pretty clear majority in the Senate in which I think most of the senators seem pretty happy to just let Trump do whatever.”

“Well, I would say in the case of Matt Gaetz, I bet they’re gonna have to withdraw his nomination,” Dent replied. “I think that’s a bridge too far.”

He went on to say that congressional Republicans “dislike” Gaetz and that “he’s got a problem.”

“That ethics report that’s looming?” Dent continued. “There’s a good chance that might come out as well. And those reports are not pretty. I was chairman of that committee, and I can tell you don’t resign from Congress if that report’s gonna be clean. It’s not gonna be clean. And there could be a referral in there, too, to the Department of Justice. That happens from time to time, plus sanctions of all sorts.”

At least two Republican senators have publicly signaled their opposition to Gaetz’s nomination.

Watch above via CNN.