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Mike Johnson Says Matt Gaetz Has Resigned From Congress: What We Know

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John Bolton has argued Rep. Matt Gaetz and Tulsi Gabbard, Donald Trump's nominees for Attorney General and Director of National Intelligence (DNI) respectively, should undergo "full field FBI investigations" before their Senate confirmation hearings take place.

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The comments were made by Bolton, who served as Trump's National Security Advisor during his first term, but has since become a trenchant critic, in an interview with NewsNation's 'The Hill' hours after the appointments were announced.

On Wednesday Trump revealed he had selected Florida Representative Gaetz and Gabbard, formerly a Democratic House Representative for Hawaii, as his candidates to be Attorney General and national intelligence director. From 2013 to 2016 Gabbard served as vice-chair of the Democratic National Committee, before running for the party's presidential nomination in 2020, and she only officially joined the Republican Party in October.

John Bolton Urges FBI to Probe Tulsi Gabbard, Matt Gaetz: 'Serious Threat

John Bolton Urges FBI to Probe Tulsi Gabbard, Matt Gaetz: 'Serious Threat

Speaking about Gabbard on NewsNation Bolton said: "I don't think either she or Matt Gaetz ought to have a confirmation hearing until they have both had full field FBI investigations.

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"And then I think the Chinese would say, 'Maybe they are serious.'"

Referring to Gabbard specifically Bolton added: "Given the Russian propaganda that she has espoused over the past period of time, I think she's a serious threat to our national security."

Bolton was asked what message he thought Trump was sending to Beijing with the appointments by anchor Blake Burman.

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He replied: "With his announcement of Tulsi Gabbard to be the Director of National Intelligence, he's sending a signal that we have lost our mind when it comes to collecting intelligence.

"Up until a few hours ago, I would have said that was the worst cabinet appointment in recent American history. Of course, since Matt Gaetz's nomination, he clearly has taken the lead on that score."

Bolton claimed that after the assassination of Qasem Soleimani, a commander in Iran's elite Revolutionary Guards Corps, on Trump's orders in January 2020 Gabbard was said she was "concerned about the illegal and unconstitutional act of war." He added: "So that's the kind of person that we're going to put in charge of our overall intelligence community?"

When contacted by Newsweek the FBI declined to comment. Newsweek also messaged Rep. Matt Gaetz and Tulsi Gabbard for comment on Thursday via email outside of regular office hours.

Speaking to Newsweek in October Bolton said Trump was an "aberration" within the Republican Party and suggested he would write in a former politician as a protest at the November 5 presidential election. He said: "Maybe Ronald Reagan. Maybe I should vote for the first presidential candidate I ever worked for, which is Barry Goldwater."

In a statement released on Wednesday regarding Gabbard's appointment Trump said: "I know Tulsi will bring the fearless spirit that has defined her illustrious career to our Intelligence Community, championing our Constitutional Rights, and securing Peace through Strength. Tulsi will make us all proud!"

Referring to Gaetz he added: "Matt is a deeply gifted and tenacious attorney, trained at the William & Mary College of Law, who has distinguished himself in Congress through his focus on achieving desperately needed reform at the Department of Justice."

Between 2020 and 2022 the Justice Department spent two years investigating Gaetz over possible violation of federal sex trafficking laws. According to The New York Times this was in relation with an alleged sexual relationship with a 17-year-old girl. Gaetz was never charged and has strongly denied any wrongdoing.

Update 11/14/24 9:55 a.m. ET: This story has been updated to note the FBI declined to comment.

John Bolton served as national security adviser in the Trump administration from 2018 to 2019. Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images

John Bolton served as national security adviser in the Trump administration from 2018 to 2019. Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images

© Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images

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