Former Rep. Matt Gaetz could be a "sacrificial lamb" as President-elect Donald Trump pushes controversial Cabinet nominations that are raising eyebrows nationwide, a laughing bipartisan CNN panel said Monday.
Gaetz' nomination for attorney general could face insurmountable trouble in the form a brewing scandal over an Ethics committee probe — which prompted Republican strategist Lee Carter to argue his selection was a strategic chess move from Trump.
"This could be the sacrificial lamb," Carter said. "I think this is a very smart move by Donald Trump, if that's what this is, because, you know what? He's out of the House, he's out of his hair, and he could be out of the spotlight for a while."
Democratic strategist Christine Quinn quickly chimed in to agree with Carter — and when CNN anchor John Berman expressed shock — Carter laughed out loud.
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Quinn also urged Democrats to ensure Gaetz' ouster by whatever legal means necessary — but not to forget other controversial picks.
"I think Democrats absolutely need to focus on derailing this appointment, because if Matt Gaetz is appointed, it will be terrible for the country and terrible for the most important law position in our country," said Quinn.
"But they need to be careful that they don't only focus on Gaetz, and they look at the other appointments and pick out the other ones that are critical to our country's stability and oppose those as well."
News that House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) hopes to block the release of the House Ethics Committee report into allegations against Gaetz of sex trafficking, drug use, and accepting improper gifts spurred questions from Quinn.
"Why not just put it out? Why did he resign?" she asked. "It's one of those situations where if there is smoke, there is probably fire, and that report should be released for the good of the office and the good of the country."
Carter agreed Gaetz was a controversial choice.
"He has been a thorn in many of the Republican side," she said. "We know that he openly had a big fight with the former Speaker of the House, Kevin McCarthy. He is a big issue, and I think that Donald Trump knows that."
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