BREAKING: Matt Gaetz WITHDRAWS From Attorney General Role
On Thursday, Rep.-elect Matt Gaetz (R-FL) announced that he is withdrawing his name from consideration for Attorney General in the upcoming Trump administration. The decision, Gaetz said, stems from his desire to avoid becoming a “distraction” as the president-elect prepares to take office in January.
Gaetz, a staunch ally of former President Donald Trump and a key figure in the MAGA movement, broke the news via social media, saying he had “excellent meetings” with senators but concluded that his confirmation process was threatening to overshadow the transition team’s priorities.
“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,” Gaetz wrote. “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.”
The decision comes less than two weeks after Gaetz, who was reelected to Congress this month, resigned from the 118th Congress to focus on his potential appointment to lead the Department of Justice.
I had excellent meetings with Senators yesterday. I appreciate their thoughtful feedback – and the incredible support of so many. While the momentum was strong, it is clear that my confirmation was unfairly becoming a distraction to the critical work of the Trump/Vance…
— Matt Gaetz (@mattgaetz) November 21, 2024
Gaetz’s statement hinted at the political friction, though he framed his decision as being in service of the broader Trump agenda. “Trump’s DOJ must be in place and ready on Day 1,” he said. “I remain fully committed to seeing that Donald J. Trump is the most successful President in history.” As the Trump/Vance team works to fill key cabinet positions, speculation is swirling about who might replace Gaetz as the nominee for Attorney General.
Remember: Matt Gaetz was elected to serve in the next Congress. He resigned from the 118th Congress.
— Jake Sherman (@JakeSherman) November 21, 2024
Gaetz’s nomination caused controversy due to his legal experience and past legal issues. Additionally, the House Ethics Committee had been investigating allegations of sexual misconduct and illicit drug use against him; the probe concluded without a report upon his resignation.
A report from the New York Times on Wednesday revealed new details about allegations against former Rep. Gaetz. According to the report, findings from a House Ethics Committee investigation indicated that Gaetz had allegedly used Venmo and PayPal to make payments totaling over $10,000 to two women in exchange for sexual activities. One of the women reportedly testified that she witnessed Gaetz engaging in sexual conduct with a 17-year-old girl in 2017.
Gaetz has denied any wrongdoing and has not been charged with a crime.
The House Ethics Committee had yet to decide whether to release its full report on Gaetz. If published, the findings would have become a major flashpoint in his confirmation hearings, which was expected to be one of the most contentious battles of Trump’s cabinet nominations. On Wednesday, the 10-member panel composed evenly of Republicans and Democrats, voted along party lines, with Democrats favoring public disclosure of the findings and Republicans opposing it.
Some Republican senators had expressed their skepticism about Gaetz’s qualifications and the likelihood of his confirmation. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AL) said she didn’t “think it’s a serious nomination for the attorney general,” while Senator Susan Collins (R-ME) described herself as “shocked” by the selection, according to Politico.
