Matt Gaetz withdrew his nomination as Donald Trump’s attorney general amid a report alleging he had a threesome with one minor and one adult.
Gaetz announced his shocking decision on social media.
‘I had excellent meetings with Senators yesterday. I appreciate their thoughtful feedback – and the incredible support of so many. While the momentum was strong, it is clear that my confirmation was unfairly becoming a distraction to the critical work of the Trump/Vance,’ he wrote on X.
‘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,’ he noted.
Gaetz was on Capitol Hill on Wednesday to meet with senators about his nomination. Many had privately expressed concerns about whether he could be confirmed due to the ethics investigation about allegations of drug uses, sex parties and sex with a minor.
He has already resigned from the House of Representatives for this term but was re-elected to the Congress that is sworn into office on January 3rd. He will return as a lawmaker.
Matt Gaetz withdrew as Donald Trump’s attorney general nominee
CNN said they had informed Gaetz at 11:30 a.m. they had testimony a woman gave the House Ethics Committee that she had two sexual encounters with Gaetz at one party in 2017.
The woman, who was 17 years old at the time, testified that the second sexual encounter, which has not previously been reported, included another adult woman.
CNN said they had told Gaetz the story was going live at 12:30 pm ET.
He posted on social media at 12:24 pm he was withdrawing his nomination.
Gaetz has repeatedly denied the sexual encounters.
The adult woman has denied participating in the alleged second encounter in her testimony to the Ethics committee, CNN reported.
Gaetz’s wife Ginger Luckey responded to his announcement with ‘Nobody loves America more than you’ and an emoji of hands making a heart shape.
The Justice Department had closed its investigation of Gaetz last year after prosecutors recommended that no criminal charges be brought against him.
However, the House Ethics Committee was wrapping up its investigation and preparing to release its report.
Gaetz’s resignation from the 118th Congress meant he was no longer subject to the ethics panel. The panel voted Wednesday not to release the report on Gaetz.
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