Matt Gaetz Withdraws Name from Consideration for Attorney General Nomination
by Ian Swanson, The Hill.com, Novembver 21, 2024
Former Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) on Thursday said he was withdrawing from consideration as President-elect Trump’s nominee to be attorney general.
Gaetz announced the decision in a message on the social platform X, saying that while he had had “excellent meetings” with senators Wednesday, “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,” Gaetz wrote.
“Trump’s DOJ must be in place and ready on Day 1. I remain fully committed to see that Donald J. Trump is the most successful President in history. I will forever be honored that President Trump nominated me to lead the Department of Justice and I’m certain he will Save America.”
Gaetz, whom Trump just a week ago said he was nominating to lead the Department of Justice, was immediately the president-elect’s most controversial Cabinet pick.
Gaetz was previously investigated by the Justice Department as part of a broader sex trafficking probe, including allegations involving an underage woman. The department ultimately decided not to pursue charges, and Gaetz has strongly denied any wrongdoing.
Who is are possible Replacements for AG after Gaetz Withdrawal?
His quick withdrawal suggests he had realized he was unlikely to win the votes necessary to be confirmed in the Senate. Gaetz could only have afforded three GOP defections assuming all Democrats in the upper chamber opposed his nomination, and several GOP senators had signaled their discomfort with the pick.
Several Republican senators expressed relief Thursday over the news that Gaetz had dropped his bid, praising it as the right decision given how tough the path he faced to confirmation.
“I think it’s a positive development,” Sen. Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) said.
Sen. Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.) said he made the right decision, given the serious “headwinds” he faced on Capitol Hill.
