Matt Gaetz withdraws from attorney general consideration
Former Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz, President-elect Donald Trump’s controversial pick for U.S. attorney general, has withdrawn from consideration for the job after meeting with senators Wednesday.
"I had excellent meetings with Senators yesterday. I appreciate their thoughtful feedback - and the incredible support of so many," Gaetz said on X, formerly Twitter. "While the momentum was strong, it is clear that my confirmation was unfairly becoming a distraction to the critical work of the Trump/Vance Transition.
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"There is no time to waste on a needlessly protracted Washington scuffle, thus I'll be withdrawing my name from consideration to serve as Attorney General," Gaetz continued. "Trump's DOJ must be in place and ready on Day 1."
Trump, in a social media post, said: "I greatly appreciate the recent efforts of Matt Gaetz in seeking approval to be Attorney General. He was doing very well but, at the same time, did not want to be a distraction for the Administration, for which he has much respect. Matt has a wonderful future, and I look forward to watching all of the great things he will do!"
The announcement from Gaetz comes as Trump and Gaetz were digging in for a potentially lengthy, brutal Senate confirmation fight ahead. Gaetz met privately for hours Wednesday with Republican senators who have heard questions about multiple misconduct allegations.
Gaetz resigned from Congress last week after Trump announced his nomination for attorney general, putting an end to a yearslong investigation into Gaetz by the House Ethics Committee. The committee was investigating whether Gaetz engaged in sexual misconduct and illicit drug use, accepted improper gifts and sought to obstruct government investigations of his conduct.
Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., is seen outside the U.S. Capitol after the last votes before the August recess on Thursday, July 25, 2024. (Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)
An attorney for two women said his clients told House Ethics Committee investigators that Gaetz paid them for sex on multiple occasions beginning in 2017, when Gaetz was a Florida congressman.
One of the women testified she saw Gaetz having sex with a 17-year-old at a party in Florida in 2017, according to the attorney, Joel Leppard. The woman said she didn’t think Gaetz knew the girl was underage, stopped their relationship when he found out and did not resume it until after she turned 18. The age of consent in Florida is 18.
Gaetz has vehemently denied any wrongdoing, and said last year that the Justice Department’s investigation into sex trafficking allegations involving underage girls had ended with no federal charges against him.
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House Ethics Committee Republicans voted Wednesday against releasing the panel’s long-running investigation into Gaetz, but it was only a temporary reprieve. The House panel expects to meet again Dec. 5 to reconsider releasing its findings.
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"I remain fully committed to see that Donald J. Trump is the most successful President in history. I will forever be honored that President Trump nominated me to lead the Department of Justice and I'm certain he will Save America," Gaetz said on X.
Because Gaetz resigned his House seat on Nov. 13th, he cannot automatically return to that seat after withdrawing from consideration for attorney general. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis will have to call a special election to fill the vacant House seat, likely in the first few months of 2025.