After the Matt Gaetz fiasco, some accountability is in order

Donald Trump’s transition process was supposed to be relatively smooth. A recent one Traffic light reportfor example, noted that the president-elect’s transition was “designed to be ‘ordered’ by advisers who have more willing Republican allies this time.”

But, the report added, “the constant chaos and confusion that defined Trump’s first administration is already bearing down on Washington.”

At this point, the list is probably familiar. More than seven weeks after Election Day, the incoming GOP president has been plagued by personal flops, legislative failures, diplomatic disasters and a bizarre concern for a “mandate” that quantitative does not exist. In all fairness, Team Trump is fighting the most shaky transition process in modern history as a Republican step on one rake after another.

However, there is one specific fiasco that deserves special attention. David Firestone’s latest column in The New York Times rang true:

The House Ethics Committee — in a report released to the public the day before Christmas Eve — found “substantial evidence” that the Florida Republican “regularly” paid women for sex and had sex with a 17-year-old during his tenure on Capitol Hill. The same report accused Gaetz of using or possessing illegal drugs, including cocaine; accepting inappropriate gifts; and helping a woman “with whom he engaged in sexual activity” obtain an expedited passport.

The committee found “substantial evidence that Representative Gaetz violated House rules, state and federal laws, and other standards of conduct prohibiting prostitution, statutory rape, illicit drug use, accepting impermissible gifts, giving special favors and privileges, and obstructing Congress . ,” the report added.

Gaetz has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing. A separate Justice Department investigation into allegations that he engaged in sex trafficking ended last year without charges being brought against him.

It’s hard to say with confidence whether Trump knew about any of this when he picked the former congressman to serve as attorney general. The president-elect and his team don’t seem to be investing much time or energy in a credible vetting process, so they may have been in the dark about the extent and scope of Gaetz’s alleged wrongdoing. It’s also possible, of course, that Trump and his team were oblivious to the seriousness of the allegations.

But in any case, the larger point remains the same: the incoming president could have chosen anyone to lead federal law enforcement in the United States. Trump settled with a politician who, according to the House Ethics Committee’s findings, “regularly” paid women for sex, had sex with a 17-year-old boy, accepted inappropriate gifts and used or possessed illegal drugs.

And that, in itself, deserves to be his own scandal. The list of mistakes the president-elect made during his transition process is not short, but Gaetz’s disaster is special.

What does it say about Trump and his judgment when, given the opportunity to pick anyone to serve as attorney general, he chose someone accused by the House Ethics Committee of possibly “violating … state and federal laws” ?

Let’s not forget that during Gaetz’s eight-day tenure as Trump’s pick to oversee the Justice Department, President-elect Apparently he called the senators directly to lobby on behalf of the former congressman, effectively vouching for Gaetz.

The funny thing about putting one’s credibility on the line is that there should be consequences when they fail humiliatingly.

Moreover, it is not just about Trump. President-elect JD Vance personally escorted Gaetz from office to office, putting his own credibility on the line in hopes of promoting Trump’s ridiculous selection. A variety of Republican senators – Lindsey Graham of South Carolina and Tommy Tuberville of AlabamaI am looking in your direction — also indicated that they are inclined to confirm Gaetz to one of the nation’s most powerful and important offices.

Perhaps they too should face some accountability in light of the allegations raised in the House Ethics Committee report? Doesn’t it make sense to conclude that their own reputation has taken a significant hit? It’s not worse, given that the former congressman’s potential appointment collapsed after eight days, so did they do it for nothing?

The Gaetz scandal is not just about Gaetz. It’s also about those who thought it would be a sensible and responsible move to elevate the Florida Republican to the attorney general’s office.