Fine Point - Gaetz Withdraws His Name From AG Nomination - W/ Josh Hammer, 11/21/24

GOP Firebrand now former Congressman Matt Gates is withdrawing his name from consideration to be the next Attorney General president Trump nominated Gates just last week in a move that enraged The Establishment on both sides of the aisle Gates released a statement on X reading I had excellent meetings with Senators yesterday I appreciate their thoughtful feedback and the incredible support of so many while the momentum was strong it was clear my confirmation was unfairly becoming a distraction to the critical work of the Trump Vance transition he goes on to say does not want to waste any time prot you know engaging in the Washington scuffle that he's withdrawing his name from consideration that Trump's doj must be in place and ready on day one he adds that he's also forever honored that Trump would be uh would have nominated him to this position and he says I'm certain he will save America this news comes in the wake of several smears and allegations made against Gates so what happens now to the Trump transition or to gates for that matter joining us now Josh Hammer senior editor at large of Newsweek he's also an attorney with article 3 project welcome back always a pleasure thanks for having me exciting times there's never a dull moment when talking about Trump and his team in Washington this is another Wrinkle in the headlines what do you think happened I know that you're not in that team but like what do you think actually happened behind the scenes so the reporting was that Mt Gates was not one of the finalists as recently as the evening before Donald Trump put on Truth social that he was the pick I mean based on the reporting and again I was not on the plane I was not on Trump Force One but based on what I read this genuinely did come at the last second it appears like Boris Epstein who was one of Trump's advisers was the one who really had this idea allegedly Susie WS was in the next room she apparently was unaware of this so so apparently this came together truly at the last minute and I don't think that there is anyone out there not named Donald Trump who who was not surp I mean maybe Trump even surprised himself when he started T typing on Truth social that that Matt Gates was the pick so so I mean this really this really did come out of left field now I look I I I hate to say it but Janelle one of my very first thoughts as soon as I saw this look a lot of the bed wers in the legal establishment and conservatism Inc they were all saying oh my God the guy's not qualified he's this that that was not my reaction my my initial reaction however was wow I'm this is a controversial pick and this is going to take a tremendous amount of political Capital right out of the gate to try to get this nominee across the finish line and for that reason alone actually I think even for his most Ardent fans that was the case too everyone understood that this was going to be a heavy lift in the senate for sure and for that reason alone that was the reason really the only reason that I was skeptical of it because Donald Trump's going to have to come out guns blazing here I mean his first two weeks in power his first 100 days going to have a ton of executive orders when it comes to the Border when it comes to to social issues when it comes to the economy when it comes to foreign policy I mean they're going to have to really really really hit the ground here running and I question whether or not you would want to spend those first few weeks in these contentious Senate Judiciary Committee hearings with this house ethics report there it's just a whole mess there so I I'm not terribly surprised with how it has played out here by the way potentially works out for the better because now whoever Donald Trump picks next for attorney general is probably not going to ruffle as many feathers simply by Dent of comparison because Matt Gates is such a fire brand is so controversial that basically no I mean essentially essentially no matter who Donald Trump picks now it's going to look fairly T in comparison no that's a great point I mean I think a lot of us were excited for the sheer bulldozing that was about to happen with a Matt Gates attorney general team but uh indeed good point it does make all of the other excellent options that Trump allegedly has on the table very very uncontroversial seeming in comparison for example we've got for Senator Mike Lee on the table former assistant our acting attorney general Matt Whitaker Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton and even someone as you know as as knowledgeable as Mark petta those are some of the names that have been circulated before bringing them on now post Gates does make them all seem like they have a great shot for all our viewers asking where one Amer news is heading in the future we would like to introduce you to o live o live is the best way to stay up toate on all of the hard-hitting straight shooting National and international headlines and the best part is oan live is only 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