Trump’s former deputy AG praised his second-tier DOJ picks — but offered no love for Matt Gaetz

Former Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein is offering effusive praise for two of President-elect Donald Trump’s choices for leadership roles at the Justice Department — while remaining conspicuously silent about Trump’s plan to nominate former Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz as attorney general.

“Critics of unfit appointees should applaud when the President picks qualified people with integrity,” Rosenstein wrote on X Friday. “As Deputy AG, Todd Blanche and Emil Bove won't allow partisanship to sway DOJ prosecutions. The rule of law prevails.”

Rosenstein, who served as No. 2 at DOJ during Trump’s first term, declined to comment when asked by POLITICO about Trump’s controversial decision to tap Gaetz as AG and did not explain how Blanche and Bove would be able to overrule their boss.

Gaetz and Blanche require Senate confirmation for their jobs. Bove, whom Trump picked to be principal associate deputy attorney general, would not need Senate approval. Trump also said he wants Bove to serve as DOJ’s acting No. 2 until Blanche is confirmed, but it’s unclear whether federal law permits that.