Gaetz’ quick withdrawal suggests that he realized he likely wouldn’t win the votes necessary to be confirmed by the Senate following Trump’s inauguration. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, File)
Gaetz’ quick withdrawal suggests that he realized he likely wouldn’t win the votes necessary to be confirmed by the Senate following Trump’s inauguration.
Former Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz announced Thursday that he is withdrawing his name from consideration as president-elect Donald Trump’s pick for US attorney general.
“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 said in a statement.
Gaetz was nominated by Trump just a week ago for the position, and he was immediately one of the president-elect’s most controversial nominations, as he was previously investigated by the very department he was nominated to lead.
Gaetz was accused of being part of a scheme that led to the sex trafficking of a 17-year-old girl. Ultimately, the DOJ declined to charge Gaetz.
He was also the subject of a House Ethics Committee investigation into whether he engaged in sexual misconduct or illicit drug use. The results of that probe became effectively moot last Wednesday, when the congressman resigned from his House seat.
Gaetz’ GOP House colleagues say the results of that probe were what led him to stepping down–they believe the report was poised to be released in a matter of days. Since Gaetz is no longer a member of Congress, the report isn’t likely to be formally released, though it could leak.
In fact, the woman who claims she had sex with Gaetz when she was a minor told the House Ethics Committee she had two sexual encounters with him at one party in 2017, according to sources who spoke with CNN. The additional instance was about to be reported by CNN minutes before Gaetz announced his withdrawal.
Gaetz’ quick withdrawal suggests that he realized he likely wouldn’t win the votes necessary to be confirmed by the Senate following Trump’s inauguration. Assuming all
Senate Democrats voted against his appointment, he could have only afforded three GOP defections, and within the last week, several GOP senators have signaled their discomfort with his nomination.
Sen. Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.) told The Hill that Gaetz made the right decision in withdrawing.
“He must have gotten some signals yesterday during conversations he was having with senators that this was going to be a distraction,” she said. “Good on him to recognize that and be self-aware.”
