By Daily Mail (U.S.) | Created at 2024-11-21 18:16:55 | Updated at 2024-11-24 21:14:38
3 days ago
President-elect Donald Trump reacted to the news that his nominee for attorney general former Rep. Matt Gaetz had chosen to withdraw his name from consideration.
'I greatly appreciate the recent efforts of Matt Gaetz in seeking approval to be Attorney General,' Trump wrote on Truth Social. 'He was doing very well but, at the same time, did not want to be a distraction for the Administration, for which he has much respect.'
Trump said he looked forward to Gaetz's future career.
'Matt has a wonderful future, and I look forward to watching all of the great things he will do!' he wrote.
Gaetz was nominated by Trump to be his attorney general nine days ago despite allegations of sexual relations with a minor, which triggered a House of Representatives investigation.
Gaetz denied the allegations, reminding concerned senators who were skeptical of his record, that the Justice Department had investigated him for sex trafficking but ultimately did not charge him.
But the House Ethics Committee had concluded their investigation, giving Senators pause about Trump's nomination.
More details emerged about the accusations against Gaetz, after CNN reported that a woman testified to the House Ethics Committee that she had two sexual encounters with Gaetz, when she was 17, including one with another adult woman, CNN reported on Thursday, just prior to Gaetz's announcement that he would withdraw. The adult woman in question denied the incident.
Donald J. Trump and Florida Congressman Matt Gaetz attend a campaign rally
Gaetz responded to the CNN story by withdrawing his name from consideration.
'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,' Gaetz said in a statement. '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.'
Vice president-elect and current Senator JD Vance appeared in the senate with Gaetz on Wednesday to help convince Republican senators to support the controversial pick for attorney general.
But the final blow to his confirmation appeared to be the revelation of details within the House investigation.
