Washington – Former Florida Representative Matt Gaetz announced Thursday that he is withdrawing his nomination for attorney general.
newly elected president donald trump Gaetz tapped last week as the nation's top law enforcement official to lead the Justice Department. He immediately resigned his seat in the House and continued in office Capitol Hill On Wednesday, Vice President-elect J.D. Vance, an Ohio senator, will meet with Republicans on the Senate Judiciary Committee who will oversee his confirmation hearings.
Gaetz said in a social media post While he had “excellent meetings” with senators, his confirmation fight was taking away from the work of the incoming Trump administration.
“While momentum was strong, it is clear that my confirmation was unfairly becoming a distraction from the important work of the Trump/Vance transition,” he wrote on social media. “There is no time to waste in unnecessarily protracted fights in Washington, so I will be withdrawing my name from consideration to serve as Attorney General. Trump's DOJ will be prepared and ready on day one Must go.”
He added, “I am fully committed to seeing that Donald J. Trump is the most successful president in history. I will always be honored that President Trump has nominated me to lead the Department of Justice and I am sure That he will save America.”
In response to Gaetz's decision, Trump wrote on social media, “I very much appreciate Matt Gaetz's recent efforts in gaining approval to be Attorney General. He was doing great, but at the same time, don't be a distraction.” Wanted the administration, for which he has great respect.”
He predicted that Gaetz “has an amazing future.” Ahead.
Gaetz's nomination became increasingly controversial as he was investigated. House Ethics Committee For alleged sexual misconduct and illegal drug use. He denied any wrongdoing and described the investigation as “discredited”. Gaetz blamed the investigation on former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, whose To remove Gaetz helped lead the charge last year.
The Justice Department also investigated Gaetz on sex trafficking and obstruction charges. Prosecutors refused to charge Gaetz last year.
Several senators expressed concerns about installing Gaetz as attorney general, raising doubts that he would win confirmation even with Republicans in control of the upper chamber in the next Congress starting in January.
This is the first major setback for Trump's efforts to fulfill his responsibility. Cabinet and key administrative posts For his second term in office. The president-elect's choice for defense secretary, former Fox News host Pete Hegseth, is also under scrutiny. sexual harassment allegation A woman in 2017. a police report details provided Regarding the incident, Hegseth said at the time that it was consensual. He has denied any wrongdoing.
Trump announced Gaetz as his choice for attorney general just two days before the Ethics Committee meeting ready to meet To discuss whether to release a report detailing its years-long investigation into the Florida Republican. Because he resigned from his position in the House upon his selection to lead the Justice Department, the committee lost jurisdiction over Gaetz, raising questions about whether the panel's report would be released.
The ethics committee met on Wednesday and considered releasing the report. But lawmakers said the panel, evenly divided between Democrats and Republicans, no agreement reached“The committee plans to meet again on Dec. 5 to further consider this matter,” Rep. Susan Wild, the committee's top Democrat, told reporters after the initial meeting.
ethics Committee said in june It was investigating allegations against Gaetz of sexual misconduct and drug use, accepting inappropriate gifts and “special privileges and benefits”, and obstructing investigations into his conduct. House investigators interviewed more than a dozen witnesses and issued 25 subpoenas, the committee said in a rare statement.
Multiple sources told CBS News at the time that four women told the committee they were paid to go to Gaetz's parties that included sex and drugs. Lawyers for the two women who spoke to the panel told CBS News on Monday She testified that Gaetz paid her directly and repeatedly for sex, and said that Venmo transactions for the encounters were obtained by the Ethics Committee.
The lawyer, Joel LePard, also said the women told House investigators that Gaetz asked about “party favors” and “vitamins” at upcoming parties via text messages, which was interpreted as code for drugs. One of Leopard's customers testified before the ethics committee They witnessed Gaetz having sex with a 17-year-old girl in front of a game table during a party in July 2017, months after he was sworn in as a House member.
Following Gaetz's return, Leppard said his “client is relieved to have this chapter behind him and is eager to move on with his life. We are hopeful this provides final closure for all parties involved.” “
Gaetz's confirmation hearing before the Judiciary Committee will not take place until early next year, but Republican and Democratic senators are pushing to see the Ethics Committee report as they consider his nomination.
On Wednesday, 10 Democrats on the Judiciary Committee asked the FBI to turn over the entire evidence file in the now-closed federal sex trafficking investigation involving Gaetz.
GOP Rep. Michael Guest, chairman of the Ethics Committee, said Gaetz's decision to recuse himself from consideration ends his participation on the panel.
“I think this should end the discussion about whether the ethics committee should continue to pursue this case,” he told reporters. “He has withdrawn his nomination. He is no longer a member of Congress, and so I think that resolves any involvement by the Ethics Committee in any matter involving Mr. Gaetz.”
Kaia Hubbard And
Contributed to this report.