Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-FL) blasted Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) for expressing skepticism about former Rep. Matt Gaetz’s nomination as attorney general, suggesting she is not a Republican.
President-elect Donald Trump nominated Gaetz for attorney general on Wednesday, sparking an uproar from centrist Republicans and Democrats alike. Murkowski said she does not think it is a serious nomination.
“I don’t think Lisa Murkowski is a Republican,” Luna said. “When you have Democrats or people that are claiming to be Republicans but vote with Democrats, vote to send money to Ukraine, vote to really impoverish Americans meanwhile they’re becoming multimillionaires in the Senate with their stock portfolios, I don’t take anything that they say seriously.”
Luna is an ally of Gaetz’s as a fellow Florida Republican and praised his nomination.
“Very happy for my friend [Matt Gaetz]!” Luna posted on X. “He is a fighter and that is exactly what we need!”
But while Reps. Byron Donalds (R-FL), Nancy Mace (R-SC), and Lauren Boebert (R-CO) are praising his nomination, Senate Republicans, who will be the ones voting to confirm or reject Gaetz’s nomination, are less certain of him. Gaetz was formerly part of the House’s most disruptive cohort and helped force former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy out of leadership and, eventually, the chamber. He has also been accused of having sex with a 17-year-old girl.
He resigned from Congress shortly before the House Ethics Committee was set to release a report detailing what an investigation into the alleged incident uncovered.
Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME), another centrist Republican, said she was “shocked” at Gaetz’s nomination.
“This is why the Senate’s advise and consent process is so important,” Collins said. “I’m sure that there will be many, many questions raised at Mr. Gaetz’s hearing.”
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The Senate will likely have a tough time confirming Gaetz despite Republicans holding a 53-47 majority.
Other Republican senators are rumored to be against his nomination as well, and Democrats are already united against it. Only four Republicans would have to defect for his confirmation to fail.