Senators exiting closed-door meetings with Matt Gaetz on Wednesday had a message: Just get the man to a hearing.
Gaetz, Donald Trump’s pick for attorney general, and Vice President-elect JD Vance (R-Ohio) met with GOP senators on Wednesday to discuss the congressman’s embattled nomination. Swaths of Senate Republicans have not yet committed to supporting Gaetz, and at least two senators — Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) and Susan Collins (R-Maine) — have cast serious doubts on Gaetz getting confirmed to the top position at the Justice Department.
Gaetz faces a litany of allegations, including that he had sex with a minor and paid for sex, though he has denied any wrongdoing. The House Ethics Committee is currently weighing whether to share a report they have been assembling on those accusations for more than a year. The Department of Justice also conducted an investigation, though officials ultimately declined to charge Gaetz.
Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.), who attended a meeting with Gaetz Wednesday morning, said they “talked about the need to get a confirmation hearing” and ensuring that Gaetz is “able to respond in public under oath.”
Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah), who was also among the first to meet with Gaetz on Wednesday, described his meeting similarly. He added that Gaetz did most of the talking, while Vance was mostly in listening mode.
“He did spend a number of minutes talking about the unfairness and the lack of truth of the allegations being pursued by the committee, and the fact that the [Department of Justice] did decline to prosecute,” Lee said.
The Utah conservative said he did not ask Gaetz specifically if he’s had sex with a minor, but that it’d be “troubling” if those allegations proved true.
It’s a pitch clearly structured to appeal to the Senate’s procedure-loving members. Multiple Republicans who’ve appeared hesitant to openly support Gaetz have said he at least deserves to move through the process. The meetings on Wednesday appeared to mainly be between Gaetz, Vance and various Republicans on the Senate Judiciary Committee — the panel that would hold his confirmation hearings.
Judiciary Sens. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) and John Cornyn (R-Texas) also publicly acknowledged having a meeting with Gaetz.
“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. “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.”
Graham did not respond to follow-up questions on his meeting, repeatedly referring back to his statement. Blackburn, who typically has a blanket rule against impromptu hallway interviews, said it was a “great conversation” with Gaetz and that it was good to see Vance. Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), who is slated to take the gavel of the Judiciary Committee next year, did not directly address whether he wants a meeting with Gaetz, but said he spoke with the congressman last week on Wednesday night.
Cornyn said “the president’s entitled to a fair process” and that he has “no prejudgments.” Cornyn has previously said he wants to see the House Ethics Committee report. But the Texas Republican acknowledged that the Gaetz confirmation process would be messy, calling it “Kavanaugh on steroids” — a reference to the highly contentious hearings on Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh.
Gaetz is “a smart guy,” Cornyn said. “I’m sure he realizes that.”
Joe Gould contributed to this report.
