Gaetz withdraws from attorney general consideration after Trump told him he didn’t have the votes in the Senate

Matt Gaetz, the former Florida congressman nominated by President-elect Donald Trump for attorney general, withdrew from consideration for the post on Thursday. The decision came after Trump informed him that he lacked sufficient votes in the Senate for confirmation. Gaetz had been under increasing scrutiny, particularly as Democratic lawmakers called for the release of a House Ethics Committee report investigating allegations of sexual misconduct and other accusations against him.

Gaetz, who had resigned from his congressional seat earlier in the month, had been actively campaigning for the position, with Vice President-elect JD Vance and Gaetz meeting with GOP senators on Capitol Hill to build support. Despite their initial optimism, it became clear that Gaetz did not have the necessary votes to secure his confirmation. In fact, GOP senators were already expressing strong opposition, with many considering the confirmation process to be too difficult, even as Trump continued to back Gaetz.

The ethics investigation into Gaetz has been ongoing for some time, particularly focused on accusations of sexual misconduct involving a 17-year-old woman. According to sources familiar with the investigation, the woman testified that she had two sexual encounters with Gaetz at a party in 2017, a claim that was part of a civil deposition. As the Ethics Committee report was due to be released soon, many believed it contained additional damaging details that could hinder Gaetz’s chances of confirmation.

Despite Gaetz’s public confidence during meetings with senators, it was clear that the ethics report and potential new revelations were major obstacles. One senator reportedly pressed Gaetz to identify which members of the committee supported his nomination, but Gaetz could not provide solid assurances that he had the votes needed. Many Republicans were privately concerned about the impact the report would have, and sources indicated that Trump was aware of these concerns.

While Gaetz had received backing from Trump, who believed Gaetz was the right choice to “disrupt” the Justice Department, doubts about his ability to secure Senate confirmation had been mounting for weeks. As the reality set in, Gaetz made the decision to withdraw. On social media, he wrote, “There is no time to waste on a needlessly protracted Washington scuffle…I’ll be withdrawing my name from consideration to serve as Attorney General.” He emphasized that it was critical for the Department of Justice to be fully operational from Day 1, and that his nomination had become a distraction.

Later in the day, Trump nominated former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi as his new pick for attorney general. Gaetz’s withdrawal came amid bipartisan pressure, with many within the Republican Party expressing opposition to his nomination. Some GOP senators, such as Kevin Cramer from North Dakota, openly said that Gaetz’s path to confirmation was too challenging and not worth the political capital. Other Republican senators, including Mitch McConnell, Susan Collins, and Markwayne Mullin, also welcomed the news of Gaetz’s decision.

For some GOP members, the decision was a practical one. As Sen. Mike Rounds of South Dakota noted, Gaetz’s confirmation efforts would have been “problematic.” Meanwhile, Sen. Roger Wicker of Mississippi viewed Gaetz’s withdrawal as a positive development. Sen. Cynthia Lummis of Wyoming suggested that Gaetz must have realized the nomination was becoming a distraction, ultimately making the wise choice to step aside. However, Florida Sen. Rick Scott expressed disappointment, praising Gaetz for his intelligence and hard work.

Gaetz’s withdrawal also raised questions about his future political career. Although he resigned from Congress earlier in the month, there is ambiguity surrounding whether he could return to the House after winning reelection. Some believe he may still be eligible to retake his seat in January, despite his stated intention not to take the oath of office. With the governor not yet calling a special election, the situation remains uncertain, and congressional leaders are seeking clarification on the legal implications.

Furthermore, the controversy surrounding Gaetz’s ethics report has taken on a new dimension. Some Democrats are now pushing for the release of the full report, which could expose further details about his alleged conduct. Given Gaetz’s withdrawal, it is uncertain whether the report will be made public. However, Democrats are still pushing for transparency, especially as more members of the GOP seem open to releasing the report if it would prevent the confirmation of a controversial nominee like Gaetz.

In sum, Gaetz’s withdrawal marked a significant turn in the attorney general nomination process, with both political and legal challenges contributing to his decision. While Trump now faces the task of finding a new nominee, the ramifications of Gaetz’s rise and fall remain a focal point in the debate over the leadership of the Department of Justice and the ongoing investigation into his conduct.