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Missouri’s 43-year-old attorney general had been on Trump’s short list for the job of U.S. attorney general, according to multiple news sources.

But Trump passed over Bailey and other candidates for U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz, announcing his choice for attorney general Wednesday afternoon on Truth Social.

If he is confirmed by the U.S. Senate as attorney general, the Florida Republican would likely play a key role in Trump’s mass deportation program. He could also investigate various figures Trump has said .Ìý

Gaetz’s lawyers he wouldn’t be charged in a sex trafficking probe launched by the Department of Justice. The U.S. House Committee on Ethics it was reviewing allegations that Gaetz engaged in sexual misconduct and illicit drug use, among other things.

Bailey has been a staunch defender of Trump and has earned praise from Elon Musk, the billionaire who is advising Trump as the incoming president staffs up for his next administration.

In July, Bailey asked the U.S. Supreme Court to delay sentencing in Trump’s New York criminal case, accusing New York of election interference. The high court eventually turned down the request.

Bailey’s office has also tangled with President Joe Biden’s administration on a range of issues such as student loan relief and regulatory changes to Title IX, the 1972 law against sex discrimination in education.

Siding with Musk, Bailey launched an investigation of media watchdog group Media Matters in December, arguing it manufactured a report that showed advertisers’ social media posts on the Musk-owned platform appearing alongside neo-Nazi and white nationalist posts.

A federal judge in August blocked Bailey from pursuing further prosecution in the case.

Among other actions, Bailey also delayed signature collection for an abortion-rights ballot measure that ultimately passed this month, tried to limit access to certain transgender medical care for adults, and has race-based scholarships following U.S. Supreme Court decisions against affirmative action.

He also generated criticism for pulling out of a case in which an unregulated gambling company sued the state of Missouri — after the gambling company gave $50,000 to Bailey’s political action committee.

The attorney general has also been requests to his office.

In addition to Bailey, others who were under consideration included former Securities and Exchange Commission Chairman Jay Clayton; Robert Giuffra, an attorney with Sullivan & Cromwell; U.S. Sen. Mike Lee; and Matthew Whittaker, a former acting attorney general under Trump, Reuters reported Wednesday.

U.S. Sen. Eric Schmitt, a former Missouri attorney general, opted out of the attorney general sweepstakes, confirming reports Monday that he was taking his name out of the running.

Bailey was appointed Missouri attorney general by Gov. Mike Parson to fill the vacancy left by Schmitt, who was elected to the U.S. Senate in 2022.

Bailey defeated challenger Will Scharf, a Trump attorney, in the August GOP primary; he defeated Democrat Elad Gross in the general election.

Updated at 2:30 p.m.