Cruz declines to back Gaetz before Senate holds confirmation hearing

Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) joined a growing group of Republicans in the upper chamber refusing to pledge support for former Rep. Matt Gaetz as the next attorney general ahead of a tough Senate confirmation battle.

The Texas senator suggested during a Newsmax interview Thursday that would he make his decision about whether to back Gaetz only after a confirmation hearing is held to assess the ex-Florida lawmaker’s “merits.”

When President-elect Donald Trump nominated Gaetz to lead the Department of Justice on Wednesday, he stunned Washington, with Cruz commenting that the pick was “very surprising to the entirety of the Senate.”

After Cruz was pressed by Newsmax host Bianca de la Garza about whether he’d vote to confirm Gaetz, the Texas senator deflected.

“We’ll assess the nominee on the merits. But there is a process that will unfold that examines a particular nominee’s background, their experience, and their suitability for a role,” Cruz said after noting that Gaetz would undergo a “vigorous vetting.”

Gaetz is headed to a likely grueling Senate confirmation battle. Republicans have a comfortable three-seat majority in the Senate, but there is no guarantee every Republican will be on board with Trump's pick.

Several Republicans in the upper chamber have already indicated they may not back the attorney general nominee, with Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) leading the GOP opposition to Trump’s DOJ pick.

At 42 years old, the Floridian would be one of the youngest attorneys general in U.S. history if he is confirmed. Gaetz has spent only seven years in Washington. After securing a law degree from the College of William & Mary in Virginia, Gaetz spent several years in the Florida state House before winning his race to represent the state’s 1st Congressional District in 2017.

Gaetz was known to fuel intraparty fights during his time in the lower chamber, gaining particular notice for his feud with former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy. Gaetz played a key role in ousting McCarthy from his position last year after a disagreement on passing government spending bills.

The former house speaker kept up his criticism for Gaetz on Thursday, saying, “I think the choices [Trump’s nominations] are very good, except one.”

“Gaetz won’t get confirmed. Everybody knows that” McCarthy said during a Bloomberg Television interview Wednesday before adding that the Floridian “couldn’t win in a Republican conference.”

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However, House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) has backed Gaetz’s nomination even as Republican chiefs in the upper chamber such as Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX) have expressed skepticism.

“Everyone who served with him will tell you he is one of the most intelligent members of the Congress. He's an accomplished attorney,” Johnson said on Wednesday.