You. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) said former Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) is not a “serious candidate” for U.S. attorney general and compared his candidacy to the rise of disgraced former Rep. George Santos (R-Y).

“This wasn’t on my bingo card,” Murkowski told reporters Wednesday. “I don’t think this is a serious candidacy for attorney general. “We need a serious attorney general.”

President-elect Donald Trump Shock made the announcement On Wednesday, he said he wants Gaetz, his longtime ally, to lead the Justice Department and called him “an extremely talented and tenacious lawyer.” If confirmed, Gaetz would head the department that once investigated him for sex trafficking allegations.

Gaetz resigned from Congress immediately following the announcement. House Ethics Committee investigation accusations of sexual harassment, drug use and other inappropriate behavior.

Murkowski addressed those accusations in comments to reporters on Wednesday.

“If I wanted to make a joke, maybe I’d say now that I’m waiting for George Santos’ name to be released,” the senator told The New York Times. It was Santos expelled from congress Last year after investigators alleged he spent thousands of dollars in campaign funds on things like Botox and a website for sex workers.

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He said Trump has the right to name the person he wants to serve in the cabinet. But Murkoswki added that the Senate “has the duty to determine whether these individuals are qualified in these departments, and it is up to us to confirm them.”

“So I think it’s really important that we don’t delegate the advice and consent role and move to the nomination process.” he told the Times. “If we find good candidates, hopefully we can get through the nomination process really easily, and that would be good for the president, good for him to win his team.”

“But when you put forward choices that will actually be controversial and not just controversial on one side of the aisle, it will take longer.”

Murkowski’s office did not immediately respond to a question about the senator’s plans for a confirmation vote.

Murkowski, a moderate Republican, is a key member of the party’s coalition along with moderate Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine). The duo has a big influence on the GOP’s plans in the chamber and has voted with Democrats in the past, but the party’s margin (Republicans will hold 52 or 53 seats) is likely the incoming Senate majority leader, John Thune (RS.D.), a thin buffer.

Trump called on Thune and Republicans to rush to confirm their nominations. The president-elect also requested that he be given leave Make “holiday appointments” It will come into force without Senate approval.

“One thing is clear: We must act quickly and decisively to get the president’s cabinet and other nominees in place as quickly as possible to begin carrying out the mission we have been sent to carry out, and all options are on the table to achieve this. Events that occur, including recess appointments, “Thune tweeted at X After Trump’s request

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