**Trump's Selection of Matt Gaetz for Attorney General Sparks Concerns Within Justice Department**

WASHINGTON (AP) - President-elect Donald Trump’s appointment of Matt Gaetz as his attorney general has left many Justice Department employees uneasy, worrying about their job security and the direction of the agency. Trump's decision to appoint Gaetz, a Florida Republican, surprised many due to Gaetz's minimal experience in law enforcement and his past involvement in a federal sex trafficking investigation.

The announcement sent shockwaves through the department, which had anticipated candidates with extensive legal backgrounds. Gaetz's selection is perceived as an indication of Trump's preference for loyalty and his intent to place a disruptor at the helm of a department that had investigated and indicted him in past years.

Career lawyers at the department, speaking to The Associated Press on the condition of anonymity, voiced their alarm and consternation over the nomination. They described a flood of calls and messages from colleagues expressing similar sentiments. Several were unsure if Gaetz, who graduated law school in 2007 but has been a legislator, was even eligible for the position. Concerns have also escalated over Gaetz's rhetoric about targeting the so-called "deep state."

Gaetz has publicly labeled the Justice Department as "corrupt and highly political," criticizing federal prosecutions of Trump and participants in the January 6 Capitol riot. He has also proposed abolishing agencies he would oversee, such as the FBI and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, raising further unease among department staff.

Compared to his predecessors, Gaetz lacks substantial legal experience. For instance, the current attorney general, Merrick Garland, had considerable experience supervising major prosecutions, including the Oklahoma City bombing case, before becoming a federal appeals court judge.

Trump has touted Gaetz as the right individual to eliminate systemic corruption within the agency and restore public trust in the Justice Department. However, the nomination has left many wondering about the department's future. John Fishwick Jr., a former U.S. attorney for the Western District of Virginia appointed by President Obama, suggested that Gaetz was selected to bring significant change and disruption to the DOJ, resonating with Trump's approach.

Despite the widespread concern, some department lawyers consider the change an opportunity for a reset amidst the political mistrust surrounding recent high-profile investigations. The FBI and Justice Department have previously faced scrutiny over their probes into Hillary Clinton's email server and alleged connections between Trump's 2016 campaign and Russia, along with a special counsel investigation that led to federal indictments against Trump.

It remains uncertain if Gaetz will garner enough support from Senate Republicans for confirmation. While some Republicans are supportive, others have expressed reservations or withheld their public stance. Trump has hinted at circumventing the traditional confirmation process by making recess appointments.

Adding to the controversy, Gaetz continues to face scrutiny over a federal sex trafficking investigation that concluded without charges and a House Ethics Committee probe into allegations of sexual misconduct, improper gifts, and obstruction of justice. House Speaker Mike Johnson has requested that the committee withhold its findings, countering demands from senators who seek access to the investigation results now that Gaetz has been nominated for attorney general.