Trump’s nominee for attorney general, Gaetz, has been one of the most controversial among his Cabinet picks, specifically because the former representative was subject to a House Ethics Committee investigation for three years. When asked about the possibility of the report being released and showing that Gaetz committed no wrongdoing, Swalwell theorized that the discussion this report is creating is drawing attention away from “the real issues” with Trump’s nominee.

“Well, I actually think the report is a little bit of a distraction about the real issues with Matt Gaetz, which is that he is going to go in and politically punish Donald Trump‘s perceived enemies,” Swalwell said on CNN’s NewsCenter. “And he’s going to do all of that work at the cost of us not investigating money laundering, corruption, counterterrorism, counterintelligence issues because he’s just going to be a lapdog for Donald Trump. And he’s actually told us that’s what he’s going to do.”

Swalwell added that Trump’s nomination of Gaetz shows that the president-elect is ignoring what the majority of voters asked of him, suggesting people cared about border security and lowering the cost of living. He also contended that voters would not take Gaetz seriously as attorney general if his “dirty laundry” is hidden by House Republicans.

Swalwell’s claims that Trump will enact retribution run counter to recent comments from the president-elect, who told Fox News Digital that he is not seeking retribution nor being able “to destroy people who treated me very unfairly.”

“I am always looking to give a second and even third chance, but never willing to give a fourth chance — that is where I hold the line,” said Trump. 

Earlier this month, Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH) dismissed the possibility of Trump seeking retribution against his political enemies, pointing to how the former president did not do so “in his first term.” He also contended that the Republican Party is opposed to “going after your opponents using lawfare.”