Trump's Attorney General pick is tainted by scandal. Intelligence chief has no experience

Washington (Reuters) - President-elect Donald Trump's first cabinet appointments have been shocking, but he continued to nominate inexperienced loyalists to his cabinet on Wednesday in a sign that he is determined to reshape the U.S. government.

Trump on Wednesday nominated Representative Matt Gaetz, 42, to serve as attorney general. The former lawyer has never worked at the Justice Department or as a prosecutor. Gates has been plagued by scandals, including a Justice Department investigation into allegations that he paid for sex with a 17-year-old girl. He has denied the allegations and was told last year that he would not face criminal charges.

The House Ethics Committee is also investigating allegations that Gates engaged in misconduct, used illegal drugs and accepted inappropriate gifts. But Gates tendered his resignation as soon as he was nominated, effectively ending the investigation because he was no longer a member of the House. Mr. Gates has denied wrongdoing.

Trump also nominated Tulsi Gabbard, 43, to be director of national intelligence, overseeing 18 spy agencies. The former Democratic Congressman, who switched to the Republican Party, has little intelligence experience. She spoke out against former President Barack Obama's military intervention in Syria's civil war and suggested Russian President Vladimir Putin had good reason to invade Ukraine.

Trump said Gabbard "will bring to the intelligence community the fearlessness of her illustrious career, defending our constitutional rights and securing peace through strength."

Compared with these choices, Trump's formal announcement on Wednesday of the nomination of China hardliner Senator Marco Rubio (53) as secretary of state is seen as a more traditional and even mainstream choice.

"He will be a strong advocate for our country, a true friend to our Allies, and a fearless warrior who will never concede defeat to our adversaries," Trump said of Rubio in a statement.

Mr Rubio used to argue that the US should be more assertive in dealing with geopolitical rivals, but more recently his views have been more in line with Mr Trump's approach to foreign policy.

Overall, Trump's choice marks a fundamental shift over the next four years in how the U.S. government operates and the role the United States plays in the world.

Analysts say Trump's cabinet picks have one thing in common: absolute loyalty to him. These people are unlikely to object to his highly controversial instructions.

Trump promised during the campaign that he would not spare political enemies, including Democratic President Joe Biden, and his choice for attorney general, Gates, is unlikely to stand in his way.

"Gates is going to do exactly what Trump says, and I guess that's why he was chosen," said one person close to Trump.

Six sources close to the Trump team, including donors, advisers and fundraisers, said privately that they were shocked by Trump's choice of Gates because of his limited credentials and the Justice Department's past investigations of him.

The nominations of Gates and others will test Trump's influence with Senate Republicans, who will control the chamber from January and must confirm Trump's nominees. Republicans are projected to control the Senate with 53 seats to 47, so only four Republican senators would need to oppose it to overturn Trump's nomination.