Matt Gaetz Resigns After Trump Nominates Him for Attorney General Amid Controversy and Senate Opposition

Rep. Matt Gaetz resigned from Congress on November 13, just hours after President-elect Donald Trump nominated him as the nation’s next Attorney General.

The resignation came after it became clear that Gaetz, despite initial confidence, lacked the necessary support for Senate confirmation.

Sources familiar with the nomination process suggest Gaetz recognised he didn’t have the votes in the Senate and chose to step down voluntarily rather than face public rejection.

“He didn’t have the votes and realised it,” one insider said, while another noted that Gaetz and his allies were still confident just days before his withdrawal.

A source told The Post that Gaetz was shown a private whip count shortly before he pulled out, which confirmed he had “no path to confirmation.”

Gaetz’s nomination faced significant obstacles, mainly due to resurfacing allegations tied to a sex trafficking investigation by the Justice Department. Although the probe concluded in early 2023, it did not result in charges against Gaetz, and an ongoing House Ethics Committee investigation has haunted him.

Gaetz visited senators on Capitol Hill on Wednesday before his withdrawal. Getty Images

The probe examines alleged drug abuse, sexual misconduct, and inappropriate payments made by Gaetz, including $10,000 in Venmo transactions tied to claims of sex with multiple women. One witness has also alleged seeing Gaetz with a 17-year-old girl at a party in 2017. Gaetz has denied all accusations, calling them false and insisting they should be viewed sceptically.

The pressure from these investigations and resistance in the Senate led to Gaetz’s decision to withdraw. CNN’s Paula Reid reported that Gaetz stepped down 45 minutes after she contacted him for comment on the allegations of a second sexual encounter with the underage girl. In a statement, Gaetz dismissed the accusations as “invented” and “false testimony” meant to damage his reputation.

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Meanwhile, the House Ethics Committee met behind closed doors on Wednesday to discuss releasing any findings related to Gaetz’s conduct but emerged after two hours of deliberations without a conclusion.

Chairman Michael Guest (R-Miss.) noted that the 10-member panel, evenly divided between Republicans and Democrats, could not agree on whether to release the report. Rep. Sean Casten (D-Ill.) also introduced a resolution that would force a House vote to disclose the report. However, it is expected to be delayed until after the Thanksgiving holiday.

Senate Republicans, including incoming Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), have called for the ethics report to be handed over for review. At the same time, Senate Democrats have pushed for the FBI to release witness interview transcripts. Despite the report, Republicans like Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) have suggested the committee could subpoena relevant witnesses to get to the truth.

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As for Gaetz’s prospects, a GOP aide had previously predicted to The Post that he would not be confirmed in the Senate. “This is all a play to become a martyr to boost [his 2026] gubernatorial prospects in Florida,” the aide speculated. Another anonymous source noted that many Republicans were reluctant to speak out against Gaetz for fear of becoming targets in a potential future administration.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump praised Gaetz for his efforts, acknowledging that he had “done very well” in seeking approval for the position. Trump emphasised that Gaetz did not want to “be a distraction” to the new administration and expressed confidence in his future, stating, “Matt has a wonderful future, and I look forward to watching all of the great things he will do.”

Gaetz had previously received backing from prominent figures such as tech mogul Elon Musk, who called Gaetz a “Hammer of Justice” who could help clean up a corrupt system.

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While Gaetz’s resignation ends his bid for Attorney General, the search for Trump’s nominee continues. Other potential picks, including Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey and Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah), were rumoured to be on the shortlist.

Meanwhile, other key figures in Trump’s second administration, including former Director of National Intelligence John Ratcliffe and former Acting Attorney General Matthew Whitaker, have already secured prominent roles.