Republicans in both the House and Senate who are taken aback by President-elect Donald Trump’s choice of Matt Gaetz as attorney general must not have been paying attention for some time.

Gaetz, who stepped down from his congressional role in Florida just ahead of a report expected to detail his involvement in ongoing scandals related to underage sex and drug use, embodies the kind of character Trump vowed to unleash on his perceived adversaries upon his return to the White House.

The real unexpected aspect is Trump’s selection of U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio from Florida for the position of secretary of State. Rubio, once a vocal critic of Trump, has shifted his foreign policy stance to one that shows loyalty to Trump, despite previously voting to certify Trump’s defeat in the 2020 election.

While Rubio’s extensive experience in politics and international relations makes his selection somewhat reasonable, Gaetz lacks such qualifications.

This indicates that Trump might actually recognize some expertise in his choice of advisors amid what is expected to be a chaotic environment, where members of Congress from both parties could end up facing quick repercussions.

Trump’s choice of Gaetz for attorney general aligns perfectly with his agenda

Trump relishes breaking down established norms that might restrict his decision-making. Even more, he relishes testing individuals’ loyalty to him, pushing them into positions where they must demonstrate unwavering support.

Gaetz symbolizes the ideal candidate for this loyalty examination, as Trump trusts Congressional Republicans no more than he trusts Democrats.

This nomination sets the stage for a high-profile confirmation hearing in the Senate, which the Republicans will control with a slender majority starting in January. Already, familiar figures among the Senate Republicans, such as Susan Collins from Maine and Lisa Murkowski from Alaska, are voicing objections.

Consequently, Trump gains an opportunity to note which Republicans will stand against him. They may hesitate before conforming but will ultimately comply with Trump’s demands.

Take, for instance, U.S. Sen. Markwayne Mullin from Oklahoma, who previously expressed frustration on CNN regarding Gaetz’s behavior, which included showing off pictures of women he had allegedly interacted with while boasting about his exploits.

Mullin reaffirmed his trust in Trump’s decision-making regarding Gaetz on CNN this Wednesday, indicating his alignment with the view of “do whatever Trump wants as soon as he wants it.” He will unlikely be the only one in that position.

Trump demands Senate Republicans prioritize loyalty over their duties

The political landscape is shifting as John Thune from South Dakota ascends to become the new Republican leader in the Senate. He secured his position on Wednesday, defeating John Cornyn from Texas and Rick Scott of Florida, Trump’s preferred choice.

Trump, during a recent announcement, insisted that any new Senate leadership must comply with “Recess Appointments,” a tactic that enables a president to bypass the Senate’s traditional role of approving Cabinet nominations. Thune, Cornyn, and Scott swiftly agreed to this notion.

Now, Thune finds himself in charge of overseeing Gaetz’s confirmation process. He faces a choice between ensuring a transparent and open hearing in the Senate Judiciary Committee, which would scrutinize Gaetz’s character, or could opt to disrupt Senate procedures to allow Trump to appoint Gaetz directly as the top prosecutor. Either decision will put Thune in a tight spot, testing his loyalty and allegiance to Trump.

Cornyn may have added complexity to the equation on Thursday by stating that the House Ethics Committee report investigating Gaetz’s alleged involvement with a 17-year-old girl and drug-fueled parties—which he has denied—should “definitely” be part of the review process for the potential attorney general.

“I believe there should be no restrictions on the Senate Judiciary Committee’s investigation, including anything from the House Ethics Committee,” Cornyn stated to reporters at the Capitol.

What does Trump want? Someone who isn’t principled as attorney general.

Trump’s past experiences with attorneys general clarify his hasty choice to consider Gaetz for the position.

His initial selection in 2017, former U.S. Senator Jeff Sessions, an ultra-conservative from Alabama, upset Trump by stepping back from the inquiry into Russian involvement in the 2016 presidential election.

Bill Barr, another seasoned conservative who succeeded Sessions, initially succeeded until he contradicted Trump by debunking the former president’s false claims regarding the 2020 election being taken from him.

Merrick Garland, a past judge chosen by President Joe Biden, appointed a special prosecutor in 2022 to investigate Trump’s alleged illegal actions during the final days of his presidency.

Trump’s success in the re-election ultimately put a halt to two federal criminal cases initiated by that special prosecutor, Jack Smith. The newly elected president is still awaiting sentencing for a felony conviction in New York and faces criminal charges in Georgia for trying to overturn the 2020 election results there.

From all of this, it seems Trump has learned just one lesson: to dodge accountability for unlawful actions, one must select the person responsible for prosecuting such behaviors.

Gaetz is favored by Trump because he survived a Justice Department inquiry into questionable activities and emerged without facing any charges last year. This is precisely the type of resolution Trump desires for his new term, and Gaetz would provide that while also challenging the allegiances of Republicans wary of such a choice.