President-elect Donald Trump has wasted little time in appointing top White House and Cabinet officials to serve in his administration as he prepares to be sworn in for a second term in January.

However, it remains to be seen who Trump will choose to head his Justice Department, perhaps one of the most important vacancies to be filled in the next administration.

Early contenders for the post include sitting U.S. senators, former Justice Department staff and at least one top White House adviser from Trump’s first term.

While each of them brings very different backgrounds and perspectives to the position, they all share one common characteristic: loyalty to the president-elect and a willingness to support his agenda and policies over the next four years.

As the US awaits a formal announcement from the newly elected president, here are some of the top names being floated for the role of US Attorney General.

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Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, is considered one of the men President-elect Trump is seeking as attorney general. (Bill Clark/CQ-Roll Call via Getty Images/File)

Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah

Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, is considered a more conventional choice to lead the Justice Department. Lee is a high-ranking Republican in the House and would face a somewhat easy path to confirmation in the Senate, at least compared to some of the more controversial names that have emerged.

But maybe he won’t go for the role.

The Utah Republican told reporters last week that while he has been in frequent discussions with Trump’s transition team, he plans to focus his influence in the Republican-majority Senate on helping build support for Trump’s Cabinet nominees and helping select the Senate majority leader. Leadership elections in which Lee, as current chairman of the Senate Steering Committee, is poised to play an important role.

“I have the job I want,” Lee told the Deseret News in an interview. “And I look forward to working in the next Congress and with President Trump and his team to implement his agenda and the reform agenda that Republicans have offered and campaigned for, and it will be an exciting time.” We have a lot of work to do.”

John Ratcliffe

Former Director of National Intelligence John Ratcliffe is among the top names considered to head the Justice Department.

Ratcliffe, a former federal prosecutor and a former U.S. representative from Texas, gained attention during Trump’s first term for his outspoken criticism of the FBI and the special counsel’s investigation overseen by Robert Mueller.

Trump tapped Ratcliffe in 2019 to replace Dan Coates as director of National Intelligence. The following year, he was asked by the outgoing president to join his impeachment team.

Mark Paoletta, right, is seen walking with Ginni Thomas, wife of Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, on September 29, 2022. Paoletta is believed to be among the men being monitored by President-elect Trump for possible be appointed U.S. Attorney General. (REUTERS/Evelyn Hockstein)

Mark Paoletta

Former White House counsel Mark Paoletta served as an adviser to then-Vice President Mike Pence and the Office of Management and Budget during Trump’s first term.

Paoletta is also already working on Trump’s transition team, including helping to guide Justice Department policy in the next Trump administration, making him a potentially natural fit for the role.

Paoletta also made clear Monday that if confirmed to head the Justice Department, he would not tolerate any opposition to Trump’s agenda from career prosecutors and other non-political officials.

In a lengthy post on social media site (although this would be a shame). matter of opinion).

“If these career DOJ employees will not implement President Trump’s program in good faith, they must go,” Paoletta said, noting that employees engaged in so-called “resistance” to Trump’s agenda would be guilty to “undermining American democracy.” and subject to “disciplinary action, up to and including termination.”

Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey is considered by newly elected President Trump as one of the contenders to be appointed US Attorney General. (Vanessa Abbitt/St. Louis Post-Dispatch/Tribune News Service via Getty Images/File)

Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey

Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey is also among the names being floated to lead the Justice Department. Bailey was appointed as the state’s top prosecutor by Missouri Gov. Mike Parson in 2022 after then-Attorney General Eric Schmitt was elected to the U.S. Senate.

Since taking over the state AG’s office, Bailey has led dozens of lawsuits against the Biden administration and has also tried to defend the state on a number of conservative issues.

Those familiar with Bailey’s rise say his lower-profile career could be an asset as a potential U.S. attorney general, especially since the role requires Senate confirmation. He could be joined here by Sens. Josh Hawley and Eric Schmitt, two Missouri Republicans who also served as attorney general before serving in the Senate.

Since neither appears to want to pursue the role of America’s top pro sector, they could play a key role in criticizing Bailey in the Senate if his name comes up.

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Matt Whitaker

Former acting Attorney General Matt Whitaker temporarily led the Justice Department after Trump fired former Attorney General Jeff Sessions during his first term.

When asked in a Fox News interview last week whether he wants the role, Whitaker declined to answer, saying the decision is Trump’s.

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“He’s going to want someone he knows, likes and trusts,” Whitaker said. “He’s going to need someone who has been there from the beginning,” he added, and who can help defend against what Whitaker described as “all this legal nonsense.”

Trump’s transition team did not immediately respond to Fox News’ request for comment on who remains on the list of candidates to lead the Justice Department.