Trump’s transition live: Matt Gaetz’s Attorney General pick shocks Washington

Meanwhile, things aren’t looking so good for Trump’s former attorney Rudy Giuliani, whose lawyers have abruptly quit representing him in his defamation case.

They have withdrawn after attorneys for the women Giuliani defamed accused the disgraced former New York City mayor of hiding property he has been ordered to turn over.

Giuliani’s lead counsel Kenneth Caruso and attorney David Labkowski filed a motion in federal court in New York on Wednesday citing several reasons for their withdrawal, pointing to a “fundamental disagreement” with Donald Trump’s former attorney.

Alex Woodward has the story.

Congresswoman Abigail Spanberger of Virginia has weighed in on Tulsi Gabbard’s nomination as Trump’s director of national intelligence.

The Democrat said she is “deeply concerned” about what the appointment means for national security.

Republican Senator Tommy Tuberville has already fired warning shots at any Republicans who might vote against Matt Gaetz becoming Donald Trump’s incoming attorney general.

Speaking to Fox Business on Wednesday after the president-elect announced his controversial decision, the Alabama senator threatened to boot party members from the upper chamber if they oppose the former Florida representative’s nomination.

Alarm bells rang for a swathe of congressional Republicans on Wednesday when Trump announced he had picked Gaetz to become the nation’s top law enforcement officer and head up the Department of Justice.

James Liddell and Alex Woodward report.

So far there is the MAGA ally, the Fox News host, and the ex-Democrat.

President-elect Donald Trump is filling key posts in his second administration, putting an emphasis so far on aides and allies who were his strongest backers during the 2024 campaign.

Thomas Beaumont and Ariana Baio have the rundown of all the nominees so far.

Senator Tammy Duckworth of Illinois has slammed Trump’s choice of Pete Hegseth as his next defense secretary and called out his comments that women shouldn’t serve in combat roles.

Duckworth, who lost both her legs in Iraq in 2004, shared her views with CNN’s Kaitlin Collins.

Donald Trump and Elon Musk performed a bizarre duet of God Bless America at Mar-a-Lago.

The President-elect and his new chief efficiency officer joined opera singer Chris Macchio for a rendition of the American classic at a party on Wednesday evening.

Republicans have won enough seats to control the U.S. House, completing the party’s sweep into power and securing their hold on U.S. government alongside President-elect Donald Trump.

A House Republican victory in Arizona, alongside a win in slow-counting California earlier Wednesday, gave the GOP the 218 House victories that make up the majority. Republicans earlier gained control of the Senate from Democrats.

With hard-fought yet thin majorities, Republican leaders are envisioning a mandate to upend the federal government and swiftly implement Trump’s vision for the country.

Republicans and Democrats are stunned by Trump’s nomination of Matt Gaetz as attorney general.

News of his appointment drew audible gasps from House Republicans at a conference meeting on Wednesday, according to Axios.

A House Republican described the response in the room as “stunned and disgusted,” the outlet reported.

“I’m sure that there will be a lot of questions raised at his hearing,” said Maine Republican Senator Susan Collins.

Alaska Republican Senator Lisa Murkowski said Gaetz’s name “was not on my Bingo card.”

“I don’t think it’s a serious nomination for the attorney general,” she said.

Senator Peter Welch, a Vermont Democrat, told The Independent the announcement sounded like a headline in a satire publication. “That was in The Onion,” Welch said.

Matt Gaetz became part of a federal sex trafficking investigation targeting a former associate, Joel Greenberg. The pair were part of a group of Florida Republicans described in news reports as attending parties where participants used drugs and had sex with women who had been paid.

In 2021, Greenberg pleaded guilty to federal crimes including sex trafficking of a minor, identity theft, stalking, wire fraud, and conspiracy to bribe a public official, and received an 11-year sentence.

Gaetz has denied all wrongdoing.

In 2023, the Department of Justice declined to seek charges against the Florida congressman.

Gaetz was also the subject of a House ethics inquiry, featuring interviews with witnesses from the federal probe, who allege they attended the parties where Gaetz was allegedly present with women who were paid by Greenberg. A witness reportedly told investigators this summer Gaetz paid her for sex, which he denies.

The Republican has denied these claims and said the investigation is based on “lies intended solely to smear me.”

Gaetz’s resignation from Congress will end the House ethics investigation. Former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy claimed earlier this year Gaetz led a successful challenge to his leadership in an attempt to stop the ethics investigation.

Former Trump administration aide Cassidy Hutchinson claimed in a memoir Gaetz groped her on two occasions and tried to make a pass at her at Camp David.

Gaetz has denied the allegations but claimed the pair had once dated, which Hutchinson denies.