SENATE DEMOCRATS MUST INVESTIGATE TRUMP’S UNQUALIFIED, UNACCEPTABLE N0MINEES BEFORE THEY LOSE THEIR MAJORITY
QUICK READ:Although Trump won’t be sworn in until January 20, he’s already begun nominating incompetent, unqualified, and dangerous sycophants for senior administration positions who will carry out his threats to destroy federal agencies, deport many millions, subvert climate change initiatives, and go after his enemies. Since the incoming Senate is unlikely to buck Trump, Senate Democrats must take advantage of their present control by immediately holding hearings on these nominees’ fitness to hold office to demonstrate to us all how dangerous they’ll be to our health and wellbeing and to our democracy’s survival.
CONTENTS:
BACKGROUND
Although Trump won’t be sworn in until January 20, he’s already begun nominating incompetent, unqualified, and dangerous sycophants for senior administration positions who will carry out his threats to destroy federal agencies, deport many millions, subvert climate change initiatives, and go after his enemies, including:
Matt Gaetz (Attorney-General): accused pedophile, illicit drug user, misused campaign funds, impeded investigations of his misconduct;
RFK Jr. (HHS Secretary): accused sexual predator, anti-vaxxer, no medical training;
Tulsi Gabbard (National Intelligence Director): Putin apologist;
Pete Hegseth (Defense Secretary): Fox News Pundit, accused sexual predator, insurrectionist, misogynist;
Kristi Noem (Homeland Security Secretary): anti-vaxxer, anti-immigrant, climate denier;
Mike Huckabee (Ambassador to Israel): evangelical Christian, staunch Palestine opponent;
Lee Zeldin (EPA Director): climate denier;
Chris Wright (Energy Secretary): fracking CEO, climate denier;
John Ratcliffe (CIA Director): weaponized secure data against Trump’s opposition during his first term.
Since it’s extremely unlikely the new GOP-controlled Senate will reject one or more of these extremely unqualified nominees, the appropriate committees—under Democratic control until January 3—must immediately hold hearings on their fitness to hold office to demonstrate how dangerous they will be to the health and wellbeing of us all. As part of their investigation Senators must demand and make public the House Ethics Committee report on Matt Gaetz with all its underlying documentation.
At the same time, Democrats must continue confirming as many judges and agency heads as possible, remaining in session as long as necessary.
ACTION One: Call the Senate.
Script for Oregon Senators
SEN. MERKLEY: Portland office: 503-326-3386 | D.C. office: 202-224-3753
My name is [--] and I'm a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code].
I’m calling to express my strong opposition to Trump’s nomination of completely incompetent, unqualified, dangerous sycophants to leadership roles in the Trump Administration, who will destroy the agencies they’ve been nominated to lead. Please convince Senate leadership that, in addition to working around the clock to confirm judges and agency heads before the new Congress convenes on January 3, it immediately launch committee investigations of these nominees’ credentials to demonstrate how they’ll destroy agencies and programs that benefit us all. As part of this process, the Senate must obtain a copy of the damning House Ethics Committee report on Matt Gaetz, Trump’s nominee for Attorney General.
SEN. WYDEN:
Portland office: 503-326-7525 | D.C. office: 202-224-5244
My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code].
I’m calling to express my strong opposition to Trump’s nomination of completely incompetent, unqualified, dangerous sycophants to leadership roles in the Trump Administration, who will destroy the agencies they’ve been nominated to lead. Please convince Senate leadership that, in addition to working around the clock to confirm judges and agency heads before the new Congress convenes on January 3, it immediately launch committee investigations of these nominees’ credentials to demonstrate how they’ll destroy agencies and programs that benefit us all. As part of this process, the Senate must obtain a copy of the damning House Ethics Committee report on Matt Gaetz, Trump’s nominee for Attorney General.
Script for Republican Senators
D.C switchboard: 202-224-3121
My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], [state], [zip code].
I am furious that Trump wants the Senate to abdicate its advise-and-consent power so he can appoint incompetent, unqualified, and dangerous nominees, who will destroy the agencies they’re supposed to lead, to serve in his administration, and I expect you to oppose it.
ACTION TWO: Call the House.
Script for Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01)
Oregon office: 503-469-6010 | DC office: 202-225-0855
My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code].
I am calling to demand that you push the House Ethics Committee to release its extremely damning report on Matt Gaetz, whom Trump has nominated to be the Attorney General. If Gaetz is a sex trafficker and/or a rapist, used illegal drugs, misused campaign funds for personal purposes, accepted improper gifts, or obstructed the investigations of his conduct, the American people and the Senate asked to confirm him have the right to know this information.
Script for Cliff Bentz (OR-02)
Medford office: 541-776-4646 | DC office: 202-225-6730
My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code].
I am calling to demand that you push the House Ethics Committee to release its extremely damning report on Matt Gaetz, whom Trump has nominated to be the Attorney General. If Gaetz is a sex trafficker and/or a rapist, used illegal drugs, misused campaign funds for personal purposes, accepted improper gifts, or obstructed the investigations of his conduct, the American people and the Senate asked to confirm him have the right to know this information.
Script for Earl Blumenauer (OR-03)
Oregon office: 503-231-2300 | DC office: 202-225-4811
My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code].
I am calling to demand that you push the House Ethics Committee to release its extremely damning report on Matt Gaetz, whom Trump has nominated to be the Attorney General. If Gaetz is a sex trafficker and/or a rapist, used illegal drugs, misused campaign funds for personal purposes, accepted improper gifts, or obstructed the investigations of his conduct, the American people and the Senate asked to confirm him have the right to know this information.
Script for Val Hoyle (OR-04)
Eugene office: 541-465-6732 | DC office: 202-225-6416
My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code].
I am calling to demand that you push the House Ethics Committee to release its extremely damning report on Matt Gaetz, whom Trump has nominated to be the Attorney General. If Gaetz is a sex trafficker and/or a rapist, used illegal drugs, misused campaign funds for personal purposes, accepted improper gifts, or obstructed the investigations of his conduct, the American people and the Senate asked to confirm him have the right to know this information.
SCRIPT FOR LORI CHAVEZ-DEREMER (OR-05)
Salem office: 503-588-9100 | DC office: 202-225-5711
My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code].
I am calling to demand that you push the House Ethics Committee to release its extremely damning report on Matt Gaetz, whom Trump has nominated to be the Attorney General. If Gaetz is a sex trafficker and/or a rapist, used illegal drugs, misused campaign funds for personal purposes, accepted improper gifts, or obstructed the investigations of his conduct, the American people and the Senate asked to confirm him have the right to know this information.
Script for Andrea Salinas (OR-06)
Salem office: 503-385-0906 | DC office: 202-225-5643
My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code].
I am calling to demand that you push the House Ethics Committee to release its extremely damning report on Matt Gaetz, whom Trump has nominated to be the Attorney General. If Gaetz is a sex trafficker and/or a rapist, used illegal drugs, misused campaign funds for personal purposes, accepted improper gifts, or obstructed the investigations of his conduct, the American people and the Senate asked to confirm him have the right to know this information.
ACTION THREE: Good Trouble.
Below is an opportunity to fight for our democracy. As John Lewis said, go make some “good trouble.”
Call Democratic members of the House Ethics Committee and ask them to ensure the public gets to see the damning information the Committee found about Matt Gaetz—by convincing GOP members to vote for its release, reading the report into the Congressional Record, or leaking it to the press. They can be reached as follows:
Rep. Susan Wild (PA, Ranking member) 202-225-6411
Rep. Mark DeSaulnier (CA) 202-225-2095
Rep. Veronica Escobar (TX) 202-225-4831
Rep. Glenn Ivey (MD) 202-225-8699
Rep. Deborah Ross (NC) 202-225-3032
FURTHER READING
Trump Signals a ‘Seismic Shift,’ Shocking the Washington Establishment
A running list of all the people Trump has picked to serve in his administration
Trump Nominees Are Not Just A Joke—They Are Dangerous
Matt Gaetz Is the Perfect Man for the Job
The Investigations Into Matt Gaetz: What to Know
Trump’s team skips FBI background checks for some Cabinet picks
