Former Florida U.S. Representative Matt Gaetz announced Thursday that he will withdraw his nomination to become President-elect Donald Trump’s attorney general.
Gaetz’s path has been marred by a series of sexual misconduct allegations. including having sex with a minor at a party in 2017. On Thursday, NBC News learned from a source familiar with the deliberations that the House Ethics Committee, which is investigating Gaetz, was told that a 17-year-old girl had a double-sex relationship with the then-congressman at a party.
A description of the second encounter was included in his testimony to the House Ethics Committee, as well as in a deposition in a related civil lawsuit. The second sexual encounter was with another adult woman, the source said.
CNN was first reporting new claims. Gaetz has repeatedly denied allegations of sexual abuse.
“Clearly, my endorsement unfairly distracted from the critical work of the Trump/Vance transition,” Gaetz said. he wrote on Thursday On X.
“There is no time in Washington to waste on an unnecessarily protracted litigation, so I will withdraw my name from consideration to serve as attorney general. Trump’s attorney general must be in place and ready on Day 1,” he added.
Trump praised Gaetz About Truth Social and said he was “very good” in the approval process.
“I greatly appreciate Matt Gaetz’s recent efforts in seeking confirmation to become attorney general. He did a great job, but at the same time, he did not want to distract from an Administration he greatly respects. Matt has a great future and I look forward to all the great things he will do!” ” Trump wrote.
There was a general sense of relief at the Justice Department after Gaetz’s name was removed from the discussion, with one official telling NBC News: “Some events, like the sun chasing the darkness of the night, are not surprising, but expected. But that doesn’t stop me from being grateful for his birth every day.”
The office added: “I now know what will be the first feather on the thanksgiving handprint of the turkey this Thanksgiving.”
Another Justice Department official called the move “such a relief,” adding that it was “hard to imagine.” [Trump] to designate a worse one. But we will see.”
Hours after Gaetz’s announcement, the president-elect announced his name Former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi — a longtime Trump ally — as his new pick for attorney general.
Two Trump transition sources with direct knowledge of Gaetz’s decision told NBC News that Gaetz notified Trump of his decision Thursday morning. It was Gaetz’s decision to back off.
One of the sources acknowledged that Gaetz’s confirmation was always going to be an uphill battle, and said Trump is expected to meet with new attorney general nominees “very soon,” with no particular person at the top of the list. It’s unclear what that means for Todd Blanche, Trump’s pick to be Gaetz’s deputy.
A third source close to Trump told NBC News that the transition team “welcomed” Gaetz’s withdrawal, adding that ” [House Ethics] the report began to leak, and Matt had no way of doing it.
Gaetz, Trump mentioned it last week Like his pick for attorney general, he has been investigated by the Justice Department — the department he would lead if confirmed — over allegations of sex trafficking and underage sex. Gaetz vehemently denied the allegations, and the investigation ended with the Justice Department choosing not to charge him.
He resigned from the House last week, effectively ending it Ethics Committee investigation. The committee had been investigating the allegations against him since 2021.
An attorney for two women who claimed earlier this week that Gaetz paid them for sex explained some of his testimonies in detail They gave it to the Ethics Committee this year, including one that said he witnessed Gaetz having sex with a 17-year-old.
“My clients are relieved to have this chapter behind them and want to move on with their lives,” attorney Joel Leppard said Thursday after Gaetz’s statement. “We hope this brings final closure for all parties involved.”
Committee members gathered on Wednesday to discuss whether to publish the report, but not to agree.
It’s unclear what the Ethics Committee will do now that Gaetz has stepped down. Its members will meet again on December 5, when they will discuss the matter further.
At a closed-door meeting of the Ethics Committee on July 23, staff told Chairman Michael Guest, R-Miss., that the draft report on his investigation was far enough along that it could be circulated to all committee members, according to meeting transcripts obtained by NBC. News.
Members and staff gathered that day to fire Gaetz, but he never showed.
Gaetz’s withdrawal should “end the discussion” about how committee members should “move forward,” Guest told reporters.
“He’s no longer a member of Congress, and I think that settles the ethics committee’s involvement in anything related to Mr. Gaetz,” Guest said.
Several House Democrats have made the call the report must be made public. Some Senate Republicans, who must vote to confirm Gaetz, have been outspoken their interest in viewing the report as part of the approval process.
Trump and Vice President-elect JD Vance, even with Trump, strongly endorsed Gaetz.phones work a lotTo support Gaetz.
Vance was on Capitol Hill Thursday morning to set up meetings between Senators and another controversial pick. Pete Hegseth for defense secretary, but left the Capitol shortly before Gaetz announced. Hegseth also faces allegations of wrongdoing, which he denies.
House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., who opposed released the ethics report to the public, leaving the building before Gaetz’s news broke; he and House won’t be back until after Thanksgiving break.
Senators on both sides of the aisle are skeptical said that he will get enough votes must be approved.
At least five Senate Republicans – Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, Susan Collins of Kentucky, Lisa Murkowski, Susan Collins and Markwayne Mullin and Markwayne Mullin and the Utah – were the Gaetz “noes” and had connections with other senators and close associates. they had kept. Trump is unlikely to be swayed, according to five people with direct knowledge.
At least 20 and as many as 30 Senate Republicans were worried about voting for Gaetz, one of the sources said. If Vance ties, Gaetz could only lose three Republicans on the ballot.
After meeting with Gaetz on Wednesday, Sens. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, and John Cornyn, R-Texas, told NBC News that the subject of the allegations had come up.
Ernst said that Gaetz brought up the allegations himself during their conversations.
“He’s been very outspoken, but that’s all I’ll say because he’s going to go through a very fair confirmation process with Senator Grassley, and I think a lot of that will be cleared up then,” Ernst added. “I’m just reserving judgment.” Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, is the new chairman of the Judiciary Committee.
After Gaetz’s announcement Thursday, Collins told reporters that there were many “red flags” surrounding Gaetz and that stepping down was the “best decision he could have made.”
“I think that probably reflects the meetings that he and the senators started going through the members of the Judiciary Committee yesterday. “I don’t know for sure, but I think he put the country first and I’m happy with his decision.”
You. Lindsey Graham, RS.C., who has publicly endorsed Gaetz’s candidacy, X wrote on Thursday “I respect the decision to consider former Representative Matt Gaetz’s name and appreciate his desire to serve at the highest level of our government.”
Mullin told NBC News on Thursday that “I think it’s a good thing” that Gaetz dropped out. “There was no way for him, no way forward,” he said.
Gaetz said in his resignation that he will not take the oath in the new Congress. “I do not intend to take the oath of office in the 119th Congress to continue as attorney general in the Trump administration,” he said.
It is unclear what his decision means for his seat in Congress.