WASHINGTON: Matt Gaetz has officially withdrawn from consideration for U.S. Attorney General in Trump’s upcoming administration.
In a post on X, Gaetz explained that although he had productive meetings with senators, it was clear that his confirmation process was becoming a distraction to the Trump administration’s critical transition work.
“I will be withdrawing my name from consideration to serve as Attorney General,” Gaetz said, adding that he did not want to waste time on a prolonged political battle.
Trump, responding shortly after, acknowledged Gaetz’s decision, praising his work but agreeing that it was in the best interest of the administration to avoid further distractions.
Gaetz’s nomination had been under fire due to an ongoing House Ethics Committee investigation into allegations of sexual misconduct and other serious charges, including a previous Justice Department probe into sex trafficking allegations that ended without charges. Gaetz has denied all accusations.
Despite resigning from the House to avoid the committee’s jurisdiction, Gaetz faced skepticism from several Republican senators, many of whom demanded clarity on the ongoing investigations. The potential release of damaging testimony from the ethics committee, including accusations involving a minor, further jeopardized Gaetz’s confirmation chances.
Though Gaetz met with Senate Republicans to garner support, it appears he and Trump mutually agreed that proceeding with the nomination would expose too many risks. Gaetz has yet to clarify his next steps after stepping down from his congressional seat, stating last week he would not take the oath of office in January.
