'Lack of maturity': Ex-GOP gov says Trump should 'absolutely' withdraw Gaetz nomination

Of all the controversial picks that President-elect Donald Trump has announced for his incoming administration, the one that is generating the most controversy is former Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) —Trump's choice for U.S. attorney general.

Gaetz is a divisive figure not only among Democrats, but also, among fellow Republicans — some of whom resent him for triggering the "motion to vacate" that led to former Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) being ousted as House speaker. And the MAGA ex-congressman has been investigated for sex trafficking by the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), which he would head if confirmed by the U.S. Senate as attorney general.

Gaetz, however, was never charged with anything, and that investigation was dropped. Separately, Gaetz has been the subject of a probe by the House Ethics Committee.

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One Republican who is openly speaking out against making Gaetz U.S. attorney general is former North Carolina Gov. Pat McCrory.

During a Thursday, November 21 appearance on CNN, McCrory slammed Gaetz as wildly unqualified for the position.

"In fact," McCrory told CNN's Jim Acosta, "one thing that I was always impressed with President Trump [for] was that he had never been around or tried illegal drugs or alcohol. And it surprises me that he would want to make, as his attorney general, someone who allegedly was around, while a sitting member of Congress, parties in which they were potential illegal drugs — and maybe other illegal activity around him. Whether he participated or not is another issue that needs to be resolved."

McCrory continued, "But even if you're there and you're a sitting congressman, I wouldn't want someone with that lack of maturity and responsibility on my team whether I was governor or mayor."

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When Acosta asked McCrory if Trump should "pull" the Gaetz nomination, he responded, "Absolutely. I do."

McCrory added, "I mean, the hearings would be better than reality TV. That's what we don't need in Congress at this point in time…. We need mature, responsible people."

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