House

McCarthy, other Republicans back Ratcliffe to be next attorney general

by Olivia Beavers - 11/16/18 1:59 PM ET

House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy (Calif.) and other top Republicans are calling on President Trump to name Rep. John Ratcliffe (R-Texas) as the next attorney general.

“Look, it’s the president’s choice … but one thing I know is John Ratcliffe probably has the best abilities to do the job and most knowledge to do the job,” McCarthy told The Hill on Friday.

{mosads}Ratcliffe, a former U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Texas, is one of several people mentioned as possible contenders to succeed Jeff Sessions, who resigned under pressure from Trump last week. Other names in the mix include Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi and former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie.

Trump picked Matthew Whitaker to serve as acting attorney general, a move that has come under criticism in part because of Whitaker’s public bashing of special counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation.

Other Republicans in the House are also backing Ratcliffe, a member of the House Judiciary Committee.

“He is a very bright lawyer. He’s been a U.S. attorney. He’s done federal prosecution. He knows the law as well as anybody,” said Rep. Mike Johnson (R-La.), who was elected on Friday to chair the Republican Study Committee (RSC), the largest conservative caucus in Congress. “He’s one of the sharpest members of the House Judiciary Committee in recent years. And I think he would serve the country very well.”

Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.), a Judiciary Committee member, told The Hill that he has advocated for Ratcliffe to be the attorney general during one-on-one conversations he has had with the president. McCarthy and Gaetz are among the president’s closest allies on Capitol Hill and speak with him regularly.

Rep. Mark Walker (R-N.C.), the outgoing RSC chairman, echoed Johnson’s remarks, stating that he could not think of someone “more qualified” to be attorney general.

Rep. Mark Meadows (R-N.C.), head of the ultraconservative House Freedom Caucus, said while the decision should come down to who the president believes can best serve him, Ratcliffe would be a strong choice.

“Certainly, having served with Congressman Ratcliffe and having an understanding of how deliberative and purposeful he is with his questions and thoughts that he would make an outstanding AG,” Meadows said.

Other top Republicans declined to weigh in on the matter.

“I think there are a lot of good people in the mix right now,” said Rep. Steve Scalise (R-La.), who was recently elected to serve as the House minority whip during the next Congress. McCarthy was elected to serve as leader.

“Ultimately, this is a decision by President Trump. And I have full confidence he is going to make the best choice,” Scalise told The Hill.

Over the last year, Ratcliffe has been deeply involved in the House Judiciary and Oversight and Government Reform panels’ joint investigation into FBI and Department of Justice conduct during the 2016 election.

He is often seen walking the halls with Oversight Chairman Trey Gowdy (R-S.C.), a close friend who has dismissed claims that he is also seeking to become — or is under consideration for — attorney general.

Republicans have voiced concern over whether Bondi or Christie could win Senate confirmation.

It is unclear when Trump will pick a permanent successor to Sessions.

Scott Wong contributed.