Elon Musk defended former Rep. Matt Gaetz against the sexual misconduct allegations. Gatez is President-elect Trump’s pick for attorney general (AG). This development and the mounting sex allegations may put his appointment as attorney general at risk.
Matt Gaetz has faced several allegations since his AG nomination, ranging from throwing sex parties to sex trafficking. However, recently Gaetz got under intense scrutiny after two women testified against him in the House Ethics Committee.
The testimony stated that Gatez paid the women and an underage girl for having sex with him. The scandal already caused Gatez to resign from Congress, on November 13, while under investigation. Now his AG nomination is also under threat as the mounting scandals further ruin his image.
Musk went on X (formerly known as Twitter) to emphasise Gaetz's qualifications for the role of Attorney General. He complimented Gaetz’s ‘big brain’, ‘steel spine’, and his want of an ‘axe to grind’. Musk touted him as the ‘Judge Dredd’ needed to clean up the justice system.
Musk dismissed the allegations of sexual misconduct against Gaetz based. He noted the fact that Attorney General Merrick Garland had decided not to seek charges in the Department of Justice's sex trafficking investigation regarding Gaetz.
According to reports, the House Ethics Committee is getting ready to vote on a report that investigated whether Gaetz engaged in sexual misconduct and other improper behaviour. Although the committee lacks jurisdiction over former members, the findings could significantly impact Gaetz’s confirmation in the Senate. The Republican leaders have been silent about this issue.
The Senate faces a tight confirmation process because Trump chose to nominate Gaetz, which raised the eyebrows of many within the GOP. Some Republican senators have aired their doubts while others support Musk's defense. Gaetz will require a majority vote in the Senate. Trump's endorsement and Musk's lobbying will likely impact key lawmakers to push Gaetz's confirmation.