Trump transition live updates: Trump names longtime ally Brooke Rollins as secretary of agriculture

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Last updated: Sunday, November 24, 2024 1:57AM GMT
In a flurry of nominations, Trump announces 7 picks
President-elect Donald Trump continues to announce his picks for top jobs inside his administration.

Former Rep. Matt Gaetz, President-elect Donald Trump's pick for attorney general, said Thursday he is withdrawing his name for the role -- just a day after Gaetz spoke with Republican senators on Capitol Hill about the nomination process.

Trump has named Pam Bondi, the former attorney general of Florida, as his new pick for the role.

Another controversial Cabinet pick, Pete Hegseth, is on the Hill on Thursday with Vice President-elect JD Vance to make his case for the secretary of the Department of Defense job.

Meanwhile, Trump continues to announce his picks for top jobs inside his administration.

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Nov 22, 2024, 3:24 PM

List: Trump's picks for cabinet, key roles in next administration

President-elect Donald Trump is naming cabinet members and adding other key positions to his administration.

These team members will have a direct impact on implementing Trump's policies in his second term.

MORE | Here's a look at the president-elect's other appointees so far.

This combo image shows from left: Pete Hegseth, Kristi Noem and John Ratcliffe.
This combo image shows from left: Pete Hegseth, Kristi Noem and John Ratcliffe.
ByHannah Demissie ABCNews logo
Nov 19, 2024, 12:16 AM GMT

Trump nominates Sean Duffy as transportation secretary

Trump announced Monday he is nominating former Wisconsin Rep. Sean Duffy for transportation secretary.

The position requires Senate confirmation.

FILE - Rep. Sean Duffy, R-Wis., speaks during a hearing July 18, 2018, on Capitol Hill in Washington.
FILE - Rep. Sean Duffy, R-Wis., speaks during a hearing July 18, 2018, on Capitol Hill in Washington.

"He will prioritize Excellence, Competence, Competitiveness and Beauty when rebuilding America's highways, tunnels, bridges and airports," Trump said in a statement. "He will ensure our ports and dams serve our Economy without compromising our National Security, and he will make our skies safe again by eliminating DEI for pilots and air traffic controllers."

Duffy co-hosts "The Bottom Line" on Fox Business and is a Fox News contributor.

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Nov 18, 2024, 10:28 PM GMT

Could Trump bypass Congress if Republicans don't push through his Cabinet picks?

One of President-elect Donald Trump's first moves after winning another four years in the White House was to make a demand for "recess appointments."

It's now clear why.

His Cabinet picks of Fox News host Pete Hegseth for defense secretary and former congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard for director of national intelligence raised eyebrows and alarms. But his selection of now former GOP Rep. Matt Gaetz for attorney general prompted audible gasps from House Republicans huddled behind closed doors and later public bewilderment from some GOP senators.

ABC News Chief Washington Correspondent Jonathan Karl reports Trump will move full steam ahead, seeing the nominations as a critical test of loyalty for the new Republican leadership on Capitol Hill.

READ MORE | Could Trump bypass Congress if Republicans don't push through his Cabinet picks?

President-elect Donald Trump listen during an America First Policy Institute gala at his Mar-a-Lago estate, Thursday, Nov. 14, 2024, in Palm Beach, Fla.
President-elect Donald Trump listen during an America First Policy Institute gala at his Mar-a-Lago estate, Thursday, Nov. 14, 2024, in Palm Beach, Fla.
ByWill Steakin ABCNews logo
Nov 18, 2024, 9:26 PM GMT

Lawyer: 2 clients told Ethics Committee that Gaetz paid them for sex

An attorney representing two women who testified before the House Ethics Committee told ABC News in an exclusive interview former Rep. Matt Gaetz paid both his adults clients for sex.

Florida attorney Joel Leppard told ABC News' Juju Chang that one of his clients also witnessed Gaetz having sex with a third woman -- who was then 17 years old -- at a house party in Florida.

"She testified [that] in July of 2017, at this house party, she was walking out to the pool area, and she looked to her right, and she saw Representative Gaetz having sex with her friend, who was 17," Leppard said.

READ MORE | Lawyer tells ABC News his 2 clients told House Ethics Committee that Gaetz paid them for sex

FILE -- Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., speaks to reporters in the spin room after a presidential debate, Tuesday, Sept. 10, 2024, in Philadelphia.
FILE -- Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., speaks to reporters in the spin room after a presidential debate, Tuesday, Sept. 10, 2024, in Philadelphia.
ByBenjamin Siegel ABCNews logo
Nov 18, 2024, 9:19 PM GMT

How Democrats could force the Ethics Committee to release the Gaetz report

All eyes will be on the House Ethics Committee's expected closed-door meeting this Wednesday -- but it's possible that Congress can go around the committee entirely to release the panel's findings on former Rep. Matt Gaetz.

According to House rules, any member of Congress can go to the floor and tee up a vote on a "privileged resolution" that would force the Ethics Committee to release its report on Gaetz, within two legislative days.

The member would only have to argue that not releasing the report impacts the "dignity" or "integrity" of the House or "reputation" of its members.

The action would be unusual, but not unprecedented. In the 1990s, Democrats repeatedly tried to force the Ethics Committee to divulge information about investigations into then-Speaker Newt Gingrich.

Those efforts came up short because Republicans closed ranks around Gingrich and the majority. But Gaetz is incredibly unpopular on Capitol Hill, and it would only take a handful of Republicans -- along with all Democrats -- to pass the resolution.

"If you're a member of Congress, do you really want to be in the business of defending Matt Gaetz?" former Rep. Charlie Dent, R-Pennsylvania, who led the Ethics Committee, said to ABC News on Monday.

The Ethics Committee was investigating allegations of sexual misconduct and illicit drug use against Gaetz, who resigned last week after being named Trump's pick for attorney general.

If the Ethics Committee doesn't vote to release its findings on Wednesday, expect more Democrats to raise the possibility of forcing a floor vote -- one that would force Republicans on the record about Gaetz.