According to the Tampa Bay Times, "A field officer for the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles declared there was no evidence that Gaetz refused a breath test. Yet the refusal was clearly documented in [the arresting officer's] affidavit and arrest report."

Gaetz, a four-term congressman from Florida’s Panhandle, has little experience as a practicing attorney and has carved out a reputation for himself in both Tallahassee and Washington as a right-wing provocateur who’s highly critical of federal agencies and deeply loyal to Trump.

There was more reaction by Democrats and Republicans to President-elect Trump's choice of former Rep. Matt Gaetz to be attorney general. While the Gaetz choice was defended by some Republicans, others said Gaetz was the wrong person for the job.