Hardline Republican Matt Gaetz has withdrawn his candidacy for the role of Attorney General in President-elect Donald Trump’s administration, citing opposition from Senate Republicans whose support would have been crucial for confirmation.
Gaetz, who stepped down from the U.S. House of Representatives last week, has been under scrutiny due to an Ethics Committee investigation into allegations of sexual misconduct involving a 17-year-old girl, accusations he has consistently denied.
“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,” Gaetz announced in a post on X. “Trump’s DOJ must be in place and ready on Day 1.”
Gaetz, who was nominated last week, faced criticism regarding his qualifications for the role of the nation’s top law enforcement official and scrutiny over his past conduct. The Justice Department had previously investigated him for nearly three years over potential sex trafficking violations, a probe that concluded last year with no charges filed.
While no Republican senators had publicly declared outright opposition to Gaetz’s nomination, several had voiced concerns.
Republican Senator Cynthia Lummis remarked that Gaetz’s decision would provide Trump with “the opportunity to nominate an attorney general with fewer headwinds in the Senate.”
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