Former Florida congressman Matt Gaetz has been nominated by President-elect Donald Trump to serve as the United States attorney general. Gaetz is a controversial figure, and in fact just resigned his Congressional seat in an effort to prevent the completion of his investigation by the House Ethics Committee. The investigation was based on reports of Gaetz’s illicit drug use, misuse of campaign funds, sharing of inappropriate images on the House floor, and sexual misconduct, including charges that he engaged in sexual relations with an underage girl, all charges which Gaetz denies. Gaetz has been criticized by many in the Jewish community for a number of reasons, including his invitation to Holocaust denier Charles C. Johnson to attend Donald Trump’s 2018 State of the Union address. He also attended rallies which included members of the neo-Fascist Proud Boys organization. Gaetz’s nomination for attorney general has been criticized or opposed by the Jewish Council for Public Affairs, the American Jewish Committee, and the ADL. What else did Matt Gaetz do that has led to criticism by Jewish organizations and individuals?

Matt Gaetz - Caricature (46701167184) by DonkeyHotey  is  licensed under CC BY 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons

A. After the ADL criticized Tucker Carlson’s promotion of the Great Replacement Theory (that Jews are behind the effort to replace white America with non-white immigrants), Gaetz called the ADL racist and stated that Carlson “is CORRECT about Replacement Theory.”

B. Inspired by Louisiana’s new rule requiring the posting of the Ten Commandments in public schools (which is on hold while being litigated in the courts), Gaetz has advocated for the posting of the Ten Commandments in all public schools, government buildings, and university buildings (if the university accepts any public funding).

C. Referencing Jared Kushner, Ye (formerly Kanye West) stated in an interview with Tucker Carlson that “I just think that’s what they’re about, is making money.” Many were critical of this and other antisemitic comments made by Ye, but Gaetz said, “It's not antisemitic. It just happens to be true about Jared Kushner. And Ye is totally dope. I am totally crunk on Ye.”

D. Gaetz opposed the Antisemitism Awareness Act because he said the bill would even make the Gospels antisemitic based on the Gospels’ claim that Jews were responsible for the killing of Jesus. Said Gaetz, “The Bible is clear. There is no myth or controversy on this.”

E. Gaetz has a history of crashing bat mitzvahs.

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