By Daily Mail (U.S.) | Created at 2024-11-22 00:11:09 | Updated at 2024-11-24 05:29:41
2 days ago
Matt Gaetz's time as Donald Trump's nominee for Attorney General lasted just eight days.
But during that time there was no shortage of drama.
There were 'more twists and turns than an M. Night Shyamalan movie,' said Republican strategist Scott Jennings.
Meanwhile, Democrats mocked Gaetz for achieving less than 'one Scaramucci'.
That was a reference to the 11 days Anthony Scaramucci managed as Trump's White House Director of Communications in his first term.
Here is how Gaetz's eight days as nominee for Attorney General unfolded.
November 13
Trump announces Matt Gaetz as his pick to lead the Department of Justice. Hours later.
Gaetz resigns from Congress, effectively ending a House ethics investigation into his private life.
November 14
Republicans react hesitantly to the prospect of Gaetz as attorney general.
Trump also names three lawyers who defended him in criminal cases to senior positions at the Justice Department. They are Todd Blanche, Emil Bove and D. John Sauer.
Matt Gaetz speaks at a 2024 campaign rally for former US President Donald Trump in Waco, Texas
President Donald Trump takes a selfie with Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., in the House chamber after Trump's State of the Union address to a joint session of Congress on January 30, 2018
November 15
House Speaker Mike Johnson says he will 'strongly request' the House Ethics Committee not release the results of its investigation into Gaetz.
Johnson rebuffs senators who were demanding access to the report.
The bipartisan committee had conducted a years-long probe into allegations of sexual misconduct against Gaetz, which he vehemently denied.
November 16
Career DOJ lawyers describe a widespread sense of outrage at the nomination.
November 17
Donald Trump Jr. issues a clarion call to get Gaetz confirmed against the will of the Washington establishment.
Matt Gaetz and his wife Ginger Luckey Gaetz
Matt Gaetz at a House Judiciary Committee hearing
November 18
Florida lawyer Joel Leppard says he is representing two women who claim Gaetz used Venmo to pay them for sex.
He says one of them claims to have seen Gaetz having sex with a 17-year-old girl. Gaetz has denied the allegations against him.
November 19
Republican senators are divided over how much to push back on Trump over Gaetz.
It emerges an unauthorized person has gained access to a file containing confidential testimony from women who have made allegations about Gaetz.
November 20
House Ethics Committee Republicans vote against releasing the panel’s long-running investigation into Gaetz.
But the panel is scheduled to meet again on December 5 to reconsider releasing its findings.
Gaetz and J.D. Vance meet with Republican senators in Washington in a bid to rally support for his confirmation, but encounter resistance from some.
Ginger Luckey Gaetz comments after Matt Gaetz ends his bid to be Attorney General
Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., speaks at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, Wednesday, July 17, 2024
November 21
CNN reports that the allegations against Gaetz, which he has denied, include that he had a threesome with a 17-year-old girl and an adult woman.
Gaetz, while maintaining he has done nothing wrong, ends his bid to be Attorney General because he is becoming an 'unfair distraction' to Trump.
He informs Trump in advance of his announcement.
In a statement Gaetz says: '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 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. 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.'
