GOP senator: Let’s hear more about Trump pick’s alleged underaged sex

Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) urged his colleagues to gather the “relevant information” needed about former Rep. Matt Gaetz before confirming him to serve as Attorney General, reiterating that his confirmation process won’t be a “rubber stamp.”
Graham said that he met with Gaetz and Vice President-elect JD Vance on Wednesday and that he is “committed to allowing the process to go forward in a manner consistent with past practices and fundamental fairness.” He appeared hesitant to break with the president-elect’s choice, telling his colleagues that they should give Gaetz the benefit of the doubt.
After being picked by President-elect Donald Trump, Gaetz has faced widespread scrutiny over the last week over allegations of him having sex with a 17-year-old girl. Gaetz has not been charged in any investigation and has denied the allegations.
Graham went on to tell his colleagues that they should not assume the allegations facing Gaetz are true.
“This process will not be a rubber stamp nor will it be driven by a lynch mob. My record is clear. I tend to defer to presidential cabinet choices unless the evidence suggests disqualification. I fear the process surrounding the Gaetz nomination is turning into an angry mob, and unverified allegations are being treated as if they are true. I have seen this movie before,” Graham said in his statement.
“I would urge all of my Senate colleagues, particularly Republicans, not to join the lynch mob and give the process a chance to move forward. After years of being investigated by the Department of Justice, no charges were brought against Matt Gaetz. This is something we should all remember,” he said.
“I would also urge my colleagues to go back to a time-tested process, receive relevant information, and give the nominee a chance to make their case as to why they should be confirmed. This standard – which I have long adhered to – has served the Senate and country well,” he concluded.
Trump announced that he tapped Gaetz to be his Attorney General last week, sending shockwaves through Washington. Many Republican senators expressed concerns with the choice, with many highlighting the investigations brought against him and the lack of experience he has for the role.
Although appearing skeptical at first, Graham has continued to urge his colleagues to “give Matt a chance.” He also told CNN’s Manu Raju on Tuesday that the allegations involving Gaetz having sex with a minor should not disqualify him for the role.
Many GOP senators have also called on the House Ethics Committee to release its report related to allegations of Gaetz having sex with an underage girl and being involved in illicit drug use. Gaetz resigned just days before the report was expected to be released last week, according to multiple reports.
Gaetz was also under investigation by the Justice Department over allegations that he violated federal sex trafficking laws. He was ultimately not charged.
Publicly, Republican senators say they will give Gaetz the same due process that they give any other nominee. Most are loath to criticize him directly. But they are split on whether to demand access to the ethics report, which the House ethics committee could choose to release after Gaetz resigned from the House last week.
House Speaker Mike Johnson, who has positioned himself as Trump’s top ally in Congress, said last week that he will “strongly request” that the Ethics committee not release the results of its investigation.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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