Gaetz Privately Vowed to Not Target MSNBC, Fauci, Cheney in Effort to Convince GOP Senators to Confirm Him: Report

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Former Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) has promised Senate Republicans in closed door meetings that he not use his power as attorney general to target Donald Trump’s political opponents.

According to The Bulwark’s Marc Caputo, Gaetz offered an unexpected pitch to try to win the votes of Republican senators who are hesitant to give him control of the Department of Justice.  Gaetz is try to calm the nerves of Senate Republicans so he can capture the fifty votes needed for his confirmation.

“Look, I’m not going to go there and indict Liz Cheney, have storm troopers bust through the studio door at MSNBC, and arrest Anthony Fauci in my first week,” Gaetz told some senators private meetings The Bulwark reports.

“We’re not doing that,” Gaetz added. “We’re breaking the cycle of weaponizing DOJ.”

Following his electoral victory earlier this month, Trump wasted no time in naming Gaetz has his choice to lead the DOJ as the nation’s top law enforcement officer. However his nomination is filled with controversy as Gaetz was under a House Ethics Committee investigation over allegations of sexual misconduct before he resigned.

Gaetz has reportedly told Senate Republicans that he will implement Trump’s plans for mass deportations for undocumented immigrants, ramp up DOJ investigations regarding fentanyl coming from China, and will not pressure social media companies to remove misinformation. The former Florida lawmaker also promised to increase investigations into antisemitism and voter fraud.

He faces a tough road for confirmation as some lawmakers have expressed concern that Gaetz would take revenge on the DOJ for the department’s three year investigation into him for allegations of sex trafficking a minor. The DOJ later dropped the investigation into Gaetz after he denied the allegations.