Christian conservative group presses Trump to yank Matt Gaetz’s nomination

A Christian conservative group says President-elect Donald Trump’s pick of Rep. Matt Gaetz for U.S. attorney general is a clear mistake and should be withdrawn, dubbing the Florida firebrand “neither morally nor professionally qualified.”

The Liberty Counsel, a nonprofit that advocates for religious freedom, said Mr. Gaetz faces an ethics investigation and only worked as a lawyer for a short time before entering politics in Florida.

“President-elect Donald Trump has quickly named many good choices to serve in his cabinet. But Matt Gaetz is not one of them,” Liberty Counsel founder and chairman Mat Staver said.

Mr. Trump shocked Washington by naming Mr. Gaetz, a Republican and longtime ally, as his choice to lead the Department of Justice.

The selection was viewed as an attempt by Mr. Trump to install a loyal and aggressive anti-establishment figure at the department while daring GOP senators to defy him and block the pick.

“Matt will end weaponized government, protect our borders, dismantle criminal organizations and restore Americans’ badly shattered faith and confidence in the Justice Department,” Mr. Trump said.

If confirmed by the Senate, Mr. Gaetz will lead the Justice Department that investigated him for sex trafficking. Mr. Gaetz was not charged with a crime, but he remains the subject of a House Ethics Committee investigation into whether he engaged in sexual misconduct, accepted improper gifts, dispensed special privileges or engaged in illicit drug use. He denied any wrongdoing.

The Liberty Counsel pointed to the ethics probe and speeches in which Mr. Gaetz made jokes with sexual innuendo.

“Obviously, Gaetz does not want America to know the result of the Ethics investigation. Matt Gaetz has neither the experience nor the moral character to serve as the highest law enforcement officer of the United States of America,” Mr. Staver said.

Mr. Gaetz resigned from his House seat immediately after Mr. Trump announced his planned nomination. The move should prevent the Ethics Committee from releasing its report.

Senate Judiciary Chairman Richard J. Durbin told the House panel to preserve all records related to the probe.

“We cannot allow this valuable information from a bipartisan investigation to be hidden from the American people,” the Illinois Democrat said. “Make no mistake: this information could be relevant to the question of Mr. Gaetz’s confirmation as the next attorney general of the United States and our constitutional responsibility of advice and consent.”