### Gaetz Nomination for Attorney General Faces Scrutiny Amid Ethics Probe and Senate Skepticism

Vice President-elect JD Vance is actively seeking backing from fellow Republican senators for President-elect Donald Trump's contentious nomination of former Florida Congressman Matt Gaetz as attorney general. Vance, who represents Ohio in the Senate, is diligently coordinating meetings with Republican colleagues as the House Ethics Committee considers the public release of a report on allegations of sex trafficking and illicit drug use involving Gaetz.

The House Ethics Committee convened on Wednesday afternoon to deliberate on the findings of its investigation into Gaetz. Committee Chairman Rep. Michael Guest (R-Mississippi) noted that the report remains incomplete, adding uncertainty about when, or if, the findings will be disclosed.

In the meantime, President-elect Trump continues to unveil key appointments for his cabinet. Notably, Trump announced Matthew G. Whitaker—who briefly served as acting attorney general under Trump's first term—as the next U.S. ambassador to NATO. This nomination has drawn attention given Trump's historical skepticism of NATO, an alliance critical to U.S. and European relations.

Of note, prominent Republican senators voiced their unease regarding another of Trump's nominations—Robert F. Kennedy Jr. for health secretary. Lawmakers cited Kennedy's vaccine skepticism as a significant concern.

Meanwhile, Tesla CEO Elon Musk sought to clarify his role in Trump's transition process. Responding to reports by the New York Post suggesting that Trump consulted him on nearly every cabinet pick, Musk stated on social media platform X that his input was limited and that the selection decisions were entirely Trump's own.

On another front, outgoing Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin defended women's combat roles in the military, countering comments from Pete Hegseth, Trump's choice for defense secretary, who argued that such positions should be exclusively for men.

The confirmation process for Trump's nominees is shaping up to be challenging. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina), who met Vance and Gaetz earlier on Wednesday, described the proceedings as a "lynch mob," signaling the intense partisan debates that lie ahead.

As Vance and Gaetz continue their tour of the Capitol, the full scale of support for Gaetz’s nomination remains to be seen. The incoming Trump administration faces a monumental task in securing confirmations for its high-profile, and often controversial, picks. With the House Ethics Committee's investigation possibly painting a more complete picture of Gaetz's past, the road to confirmation could be fraught with obstacles.