MATT GAETZ at a campaign event for Donald Trump (Wikipedia).

Matt Gaetz, the controversial nominee for U.S. Attorney General, on Thursday withdrew from consideration and President-elect Donald Trump then chose former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi for the position.

According to the Associated Press, Gaetz – formerly a Congressman from Florida – withdrew because of concerns over a federal sex trafficking investigation that he might have been involved in.

Gaetz’s scant experience as a lawyer also raised questions about his qualifications to be the nation’s top law officer.

Bondi have been an ally of Trump – as was Gaetz – but Bondi is an experienced litigator.

ICC issues war crimes warrants

ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER Benjamin Netanyahu (Shutterstock).

The International Criminal Court has issued arrest warrants against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Yoav Gallant, former defense minister.

The New York Times is reporting that the ICC seeks to try them for war crimes, and crimes against humanity in the Gaza Strip.

An arrest warrant was also issues against Muhammed Deif, military leader of Hamas, for crimes against humanity including murder, hostage-taking and sexual violence.

There’s probably no threat of arrest, as the ICC has no police force and neither Israel nor the United States – Israel’s biggest ally – is a member of the court or recognize its authority.

Tran still ahead. now by 480 votes

Democratic challenger Derek Tran is continuing to expand his slim lead over incumbent Republican Michelle Steel in the election for the 45th Congressional District seat.

As of 5 p.m. on Thursday, Tran had won 156,576 votes (50.1 percent) to Steel’s 156,096 (49.9 percent), a difference of 480 votes.

That’s an increase from Tuesday’s margin of 314 votes.

So far, 93,000 of the expected votes are in, with an estimated 26,000 still to be tallied.

Sports: Lakers host Orlando Magic

The Los Angeles Lakers (10-4), winners of six straight games, are hosting the Orlando Magic (9-7) Thursday night.

Weather: Cloudy weather coming

You can’t have clear skies all the time, even in the typically sunny West Orange County cities. Friday will have a daytime high of 66 with an overnight low of 51 under partly cloudy skies. But a sky full of clouds will set in Saturday and continue through the weekend. Saturday will cool to 63 (54), with Sunday slightly warmer at 66 (61) and Monday at 67 (53).