Former GOP Rep. Matt Gaetz announced Thursday that he is withdrawing from consideration to become President-elect Donald Trump’s attorney general. Gaetz made the decision following a meeting with senators on Wednesday, citing concerns that his confirmation had become a distraction.
In a statement posted on X (formerly Twitter), Gaetz explained, “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. 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. Trump’s DOJ must be in place and ready on Day 1.”
The announcement comes amid ongoing scrutiny surrounding Gaetz’s past, particularly an investigation into allegations of sexual misconduct and illicit drug use. These allegations were being examined by the House Ethics Committee, which has not yet released its findings.
Sources familiar with the investigation told CNN that one woman testified that she had sexual encounters with Gaetz in 2017, when she was 17 years old. The woman claimed both encounters occurred at a party, with the second involving another adult woman. Gaetz has consistently denied any wrongdoing and was not charged after a Justice Department probe into the allegations.
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The controversy over Gaetz’s past overshadowed his candidacy, despite support from Trump and some GOP allies on Capitol Hill. On Wednesday, members of the Republican-led House Ethics Committee voted along party lines to delay the release of the investigation’s results, scheduling a final vote for December 5.
Gaetz’s withdrawal marks the end of a brief and contentious effort to secure a high-profile role in Trump’s administration.
