Matt Gaetz Withdraws from Attorney General Consideration Amid Ethics Investigation

Former Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) announced on Thursday that he is withdrawing his name from consideration as President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee for attorney general, citing concerns that his confirmation process was becoming a distraction.  

Gaetz’s decision follows mounting skepticism among Senate Republicans about his ability to secure confirmation. The announcement also came shortly after The New York Times published leaked documents from the House Ethics Committee’s investigation into allegations of sexual misconduct against Gaetz involving a 17-year-old minor.  

In a statement shared on X, formerly Twitter, Gaetz expressed gratitude for the support he had received during his meetings with Senators but acknowledged that his confirmation process would likely be prolonged and contentious. “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,” he wrote.  

Gaetz emphasized the need for the incoming administration to have an attorney general ready to serve immediately, saying, “There’s no time to waste on a needlessly protracted Washington scuffle.” He added, “I’ll be withdrawing my name from consideration to serve as Attorney General.”  

Gaetz, who resigned from his position as a Florida representative in the House of Representatives following Trump’s nomination, did not clarify whether he plans to return to Congress. He reaffirmed his commitment to supporting the president-elect, stating, “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.”  

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Trump, responding to Gaetz’s withdrawal, released a statement on Truth Social praising the former congressman’s efforts. “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!”  

Gaetz’s nomination had drawn significant controversy, stemming from an ongoing House Ethics Committee investigation into allegations of sexual misconduct. The Florida congressman had denied the allegations, and his withdrawal leaves uncertainty over whether he will return to his previous role in Congress.