trial balloon (11. 998)

In a possible provocative test of the loyalties of the incoming senate, Trump has nominated Florida congressman Matt Gaetz (see previously here and here) to be the Attorney General under his new administration, the first pick announced out of a clutch of named individuals that include an inexperienced Tulsi Gabbard as Director of National Intelligence and a Fox News host for Secretary of Defence that requires confirmation by the upper chamber. The disbelief was intensified as Gaetz tendered his resignation to the Speaker of the House (see above) immediately, vacating his seat in congress at a time when the future composition of the lower chamber is yet unclear (see also above), whereas most would wait until after the official job offer to do so. Possibly seen as a countermeasure to “judicial over-reach” and “weaponising the department,” America’s next top lawyer, if approved, was under investigation and collegiate censure last year over alleged sex-trafficking offences and drug use.