Matt Gaetz withdraws from Trump’s Attorney General nomination, citing distraction
U.S. Republican Representative Matt Gaetz, from Florida, speaks at a 2024 campaign rally for former U.S. President Donald Trump in Waco, Texas, U.S., March 25, 2023. (AFP Photo)
Former U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz on Thursday withdrew from the selection process to become President-elect Donald Trump’s attorney general, citing widespread opposition and the growing distraction it posed to the work of the Trump/Vance Transition.
Scandal-plagued Matt Gaetz, who was nominated by President-elect Donald Trump to be U.S. attorney general, on Thursday pulled out of the confirmation process in an early setback for the incoming administration.
“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 wrote on X.
Trump, responding to Gaetz’s withdrawal, praised the Florida Republican for stepping aside, saying he has a “wonderful future” ahead.
In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump expressed appreciation for Gaetz’s decision to avoid becoming a “distraction,” adding: “Matt has a wonderful future, and I look forward to watching all of the great things he will do!”
Scandal-plagued Gaetz
Gaetz was one of Trump’s several eye-catching selections, including Fox News host Pete Hegseth as defense secretary, vaccine skeptic Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as health secretary and billionaire Elon Musk to head a government cost-cutting unit.
A congressional panel had been investigating alleged illegal activity by Gaetz, including sexual misconduct with a 17-year-old girl — which he denies — as well as drug use and misappropriating campaign funds.
He was facing an uphill battle to win confirmation in the Senate for the top legal role of attorney general due to widespread opposition, including from within his own Republican Party.
Gaetz was first elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 2016 and won reelection this month, but he resigned as a congressman shortly after Trump picked him to be attorney general.
