In a surprise move Thursday, former Rep. Matt Gaetz withdrew his nomination to become attorney general in President-elect Donald Trump’s second term.
Gaetz—who had won reelection Nov. 5 to a fifth term representing Florida’s 1st Congressional District before abruptly resigning the seat on Nov. 13—said the move followed many “excellent meetings” with senators, who would have had to vote to confirm his nomination.
“I appreciate their thoughtful feedback—and the incredible support of so many,” Gaetz said in a post on X. “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.”
Some Republican senators had expressed their doubts about Gaetz’s nomination, though many of the same senators had voted for Merrick Garland, President Joe Biden’s pick to head the Justice Department.
Gaetz launched the motion to remove from office then-House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., in October 2023, while the House Ethics Committee was investigating claims of sexual assault against the Florida lawmaker. The Justice Department had previously investigated the claims, but declined to press charges.
Gaetz resigned from Congress shortly after Trump nominated him last week, and his resignation preempted the potential release of the House Ethics Committee’s report.
“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,” he added.
“Trump’s DOJ must be in place and ready on Day 1,” Gaetz wrote. “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.”
This is a breaking news story and will be updated.
