Tonight, Trump's choice for one of the most powerful jobs in Washington, picking former Florida

congressman, an ultra-loyal MAGA ally Matt Gates to be Attorney General. And Trump taps another

loyalist, once accused of embracing Russian propaganda to run the country's intelligence

operations. Then current and future presidents meet at the

White House, while Republicans take full control of Capitol Hill as the 11th hour gets underway on

this Wednesday night. Good evening. Once again, I am Stephanie Rule, and there are now 68 days until inauguration day.

And President-elect, Donald Trump, is very busy filling out his cabinet.

Late today, he tapped now former Republican Congressman Matt Gates to be his attorney general.

Gates, of course, was the focus of a federal sex trafficking investigation involving

a 17-year-old woman. That probe ended in 2023. He was also the subject of a bipartisan

House Ethics Committee inquiry related to sexual misconduct and illicit drug use. Gates denies

those allegations. After Donald Trump announced he'd pick Gates to lead

the Justice Department, he resigned from Congress, basically ending that House investigation.

Punchball News noted the move, quote, comes two days before the House Ethics Committee was set to

vote on releasing a highly damaging report about that very

investigation. More on that from NBC's Garrett Haig.

Tonight, President-elect Trump's selection of Florida Congressman Matt Gates for Attorney General

already sending shockwaves through Washington. Trump today describing one of his strongest

defenders as a, quote,

deeply gifted and tenacious attorney who will end the partisan weaponization of our justice system.

Many Republicans saying after Trump's decisive victory, he's entitled to the team he wants.

I like Matt a lot. I know him very well, and I'm confident that if the Senate confirms him, he would do a good job.

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