WASHINGTON — Former U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz said Friday that he does not plan to rejoin Congress after declining to become President-elect Donald Trump’s attorney general amid sexual misconduct allegations.
In an interview with conservative commentator Charlie Kirk, Gaetz said: “I will still be in the fight, but it will be from a new perch. I am not going to run for the 119th Congress.”
“There are a number of fantastic Floridians stepping forward to run for my seat, people who inspire through their heroism and community service. I’m excited to see Northwest Florida reach new heights and be well represented,” he added.
Gaetz said he has worked in elections for 14 years, first being elected to the Florida House at age 26. “I’m 42 years old now and I have other goals in life that I want to pursue — my wife and my family — and that’s why I’m going to run for President Trump,” he said. As always, I will do whatever he asks of me. But I think eight years in the United States Congress is probably enough time.”
Gaetz said it seemed like “a pretty poetic time to let this great new blood in, to allow my district to have high-quality representation.”
NBC News has reached out to Gaetz’s former office in the House of Representatives for comment.