Matt Gaetz, fresh off of throwing his former boss out of the House of Representatives, has been rewarded by President-Elect Donald Trump as his attorney general pick next year. This unexpected nomination, bookies didn’t even offer odds on his appointment, has raised eyebrows across the political spectrum, given Gaetz’s tumultuous history and alleged sex trafficking claims.

Known for his far-right politics and unwavering support for Donald Trump, Gaetz has become a prominent and polarizing figure within the Republican Party. Trump has been rewarded his most loyal flunkies so far, with Gaetz chief among them.

“Matt will root out the systemic corruption at the DOJ, and return the department to its true mission of fighting crime and upholding our democracy and constitution,” Trump wrote.

The reaction has been one of extreme shock, from both sides of the aisle.

The Senate still has to ratify Trump’s picks, in what is bound to be their most serious test of loyalty.

Who is Matt Gaetz?

The lawyer and politician who has served as the U.S. representative for Florida’s 1st congressional district since 2017. His political career began in the Florida House of Representatives, where he served from 2010 to 2016. During his tenure, he gained attention for his aggressive stance on various issues, including defending Florida’s “stand-your-ground law”.

He has been criticized for his inflammatory statements and actions, including inviting a Holocaust denier to the State of the Union address and hiring a speechwriter with ties to white nationalists.

However, the most significant cloud hanging over Gaetz’s career has been a federal investigation into allegations of sex trafficking. The Justice Department launched an inquiry into claims that Gaetz had a sexual relationship with a 17-year-old girl and paid for her to travel with him.

This investigation, which began in 2020, has cast a long shadow over Gaetz’s political future. No charges were brought but a House Ethics Committee had also been investigating him.