Breaking news into CNN just moments ago posted to social media.

President-elect Donald Trump has nominated his pick for Attorney General,

and that is Florida Congressman Matt Gates, a Republican firebrand, a lightning rod for controversy.

These confirmation hearings are going to be intense to say the least.

We just got a little bit of breaking news.

Matt Gates as Attorney General. That's who Donald Trump is nominating or trying to nominate for

Attorney General, Matt Gates. If you thought Pete Heggseth was surprising, Matt Gates,

well, that'll knock you right off your feet.

Got two different texts from different people at the Justice Department who just used the word insane to respond and react to this potential appointment.

And then also questioning whether Matt Gates can be confirmed.

And one person asked me to research whether anyone had ever been nominated for the post of attorney general who had been investigated by the Justice Department.

We'll have to look into that, but my initial reading is that I can't think of any time that's ever happened in American history.

Of the most prominent people of the Department of Justice, all selected by Donald Trump saying they cannot do this.

And so what I see with these announcements is a real blow to the independence of the Department of Justice,

the independence of the intelligence community.

And that is, you know, to put a fine point on it, if this were to come about, that is a blow

to any check that they could pose to the president and an undermining of the rule of law

in this country that is so fundamental that it really takes us one step closer to

countries that we here to for have viewed as enemies of a democracy.

In D.C. today bracing for the return of Donald Trump to the presidency. Within the last hour,

Trump making clear just what kind of presidency he had in mind

all along by naming Congressman Matt Gates as his choice to be the country's attorney general.

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