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 Matt Gaetz, President-elect Donald Trump’s controversial pick for U.S. attorney general, has withdrawn from consideration for the job after meeting with senators Wednesday.
“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.”
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 Gaetz’s misconduct allegations.
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Gaetz, resigned from Congress last week after Trump announced Gaetz’s nomination for attorney general. His resignation put 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.
The committee reportedly interviewed a woman who said Gaetz had sex with her when she was a 17-year-old high school student.
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.
“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.
Why was Gaetz investigated?
Matt Gaetz, 42, was embroiled in a long-running House ethics committee investigation into the alleged sex trafficking of minors.
The committee voted against releasing its final report into claims of underage sex and illicit drug use on Wednesday, but a final decision on its release could be made by the House.
The criminal allegations were also investigated by the Department of Justice, the same agency Gaetz had hoped to lead, before the investigation was dropped last year.
Gaetz repeatedly denied any wrongdoing.
