By Donald H. Harrison
SAN DIEGO – Several national Jewish organizations are opposing President-elect Donald J. Trump’s nomination of recently resigned Republican Rep. Matt Gaetz of Florida for U.S. attorney general. Leaders of the Anti-Defamation League, the American Jewish Committee, and the Jewish Council for Public Affairs all came out against Gaetz becoming the leader of the Justice Department which among its other duties prosecutes hate crimes.
Jonathan Greenblatt, CEO of the ADL, stated: “Rep. Matt Gaetz has a long history of trafficking in antisemitism – from explaining his vote against the bipartisan Antisemitism Awareness Act by invoking the centuries-old trope that Jews killed Jesus to defending the Great Replacement Theory and inviting a Holocaust denier as his 2018 State of the Union guest. He should not be appointed to any high office, much less one overseeing the impartial execution of our nation’s laws.”
Gaetz had taken exception to the Antisemitism Awareness Act’s incorporation of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s working definition of antisemitism, especially an example given by the IHRA that antisemitism is indicated by “using the symbols and images associated with classic antisemitism (e.g., claims of Jews killing Jesus or blood libel) to characterize Israel or Israelis.”
Gaetz made this comment about the bill, which was approved in the House of Representatives, and currently awaits a Senate floor vote: “The Gospel itself would meet the definition of antisemitism under the terms of this bill. The Bible is clear. There is no myth or controversy on this.”
In 1965, the Vatican published Nostre Aetate which posited that not all Jews alive at the time of Jesus’ crucifixion favored his death, nor could modern-day Jews in any way be held responsible. However, this view was not adopted by some Protestant denominations, which point to the New Testament account of Jewish leaders calling upon the Roman procurator Pontius Pilate to execute Jesus. The ultimate decision was Pilate’s.
The Great Replacement Theory holds that immigrants (both legal and illegal) are being imported to this country to replace White Christians, and that Jews are responsible. This came dramatically to public attention when neo-Nazis participating in a 2017 United the Right rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, chanted as they marched: “Jews shall not replace us.”
Gaetz tangled with the ADL in 2018 after that Jewish defense organization called on Fox News to fire commentator Tucker Carlson for promoting the Great Replacement Theory on his show. At the time, Gaetz said Carlson was “correct about Replacement Theory as he explains what is happening to America.” Furthermore, he accused the Anti-Defamation League of being a racist organization.
Earlier that year, Gaetz had Charles Johnson as his guest at the annual State of the Union Message. Johnson had argued that the Nazis did not kill 6 million Jews, but instead only 250,000 Jews had died—of illness. In response to criticism, Gaetz denied that Johnson was a Holocaust denier, but conceded “I should have vetted him better before inviting him.”
The American Jewish Committee issued this statement about Gaetz: “At a time of historic levels of antisemitism, we need someone at the helm of the Department of Justice who will tackle antisemitism—not peddle in it. Matt Gaetz’s history of problematic remarks – including perpetuating antisemitic conspiracy theories—should be disqualifying for anyone seeking to be America’s top law enforcement officer.”
Amy Spitalnik, CEO of the Jewish Council for Public Affairs, was quoted by Jewish Insider as saying that the Department of Justice “is responsible for protecting the fundamental rights of Americans, including prosecuting violent extremism and hate crimes. It’s deeply concerning that Rep. Gaetz has repeatedly evoked and even defended such extremism, including the Great Replacement that fueled the deadliest attack on the Jewish community in U.S. history. If he is to serve as Attorney General, he should unequivocally make clear he rejects all forms of hate and bigotry.”
The gunman who killed 11 worshipers on Oct. 27, 2018 at the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh earlier had posted on the Gab social network that “HIAS likes to bring invaders in that kill our people. I can’t sit by and watch my people get slaughtered. Screw your optics, I’m going in.” HIAS formerly was known as the Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society. The shooter, Robert Gregory Bowers, in 2023 was found guilty in federal court and sentenced to death. An appeal is pending.
Gaetz resigned from his seat in the House of Representatives after President-elect nominated him and before a House Ethics Committee could release its report on allegations that Gaetz had been involved in illegal drug use, the sex trafficking of a 17-year-old girl, accepting improper gifts, and obstructing a government investigation into his conduct – all allegations denied by Gaetz.
Now, as the Senate gears up to give its “advise and consent” on the President-elects appointments, Republican Sen. John Cornyn of Texas and Democratic Sen. Dick Durbin of Illinois have stated that they want to see the report of the 10-member House Ethics Committee as part of the confirmation process. The chair of that committee is Republican Michael Guest of Mississippi and the ranking member is Susan Wild, a Jewish Democrat from Pennsylvania, who earlier this month was defeated for reelection by Republican Ryan Mackenzie. Guest said on Thursday that he did not plan to make the report public. “What happens in Ethics is confidential,” he told Politico. “We’re going to maintain that confidentiality.” Durbin said: “Make no mistake: this information could be relevant to the question of Mr. Gaetz’s confirmation as the next Attorney General of the United States and our constitutional responsibility of advice and consent.”
Meanwhile, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, a Republican, said he has instructed Florida’s Secretary of State to “formulate and announce a schedule for the upcoming special elections immediately.” Another Floridian, Congressman Mike Waltz, was named by Trump as his National Security Adviser. DeSantis also can appoint an interim successor for U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Florida, who was nominated by the President-elect to become Secretary of State.
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Donald H. Harrison is publisher and editor of San Diego Jewish World