Gaetz withdraws his name as Trump’s nominee for Attorney General

Former Florida Congressman Matt Gaetz has withdrawn his name as President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee for attorney general. After the federal sex trafficking investigationEl questioned his ability to be confirmed as the country’s top federal law enforcer.

The Republican announcement comes a day after he met with senators in an effort to garner support for his confirmation as head of the Justice Department. His withdrawal is a blow to Trump’s efforts to establish unconditional loyalists

In his incoming administration.

By retiring, Gaetz avoids what was shaping up to be a pitched confirmation fight It would have tested how far Republicans were willing to go. Senate to confirm Trump’s Cabinet picks.

“Although the impulse was strong, it is clear My commitments were unduly hindering critical work about the Trump/Vance transition,” Gaetz said in a statement announcing his decision.

Trump said in a social media post, “I very much appreciate Matt Gaetz’s recent efforts to get approval to become Attorney General. He was doing very well, but at the same time, I didn’t want to distract the administrationFor which he has a lot of respect. “Matt has an amazing future, and I can’t wait to see all the great things he does!”

Appointment of Trump replacement

Trump has nominated the former Attorney General of Florida Pam Bondi as his chosen replacement

“Pam was Prosecutor for almost 20 years“Where she got tough on violent criminals and made the streets safer for Florida families,” the president-elect wrote in a post on her social media platform, Truth Social. Bondi previously served in the Trump administration. Member of the Commission on Opioids and Drug Abuse,

Gaetz’s announcement comes days after One lawyer for two women His clients told House Ethics Committee investigators Gaetz paid her for sex on several occasions starting in 2017When Gaetz was a Florida congressman. A woman testified to this Gaetz was seen having sex with a 17-year-old girl at a party in Florida in 2017According to attorney Joel LePard.

leopard said so His client testified that he did not believe Gaetz knew the girl was a minor.When she found out she ended their relationship and did not resume it until she turned 18. The age of consent in Florida is 18.

Gaetz has vehemently denied any wrongdoing. And announced last year that the Justice Department’s investigation into child sex trafficking allegations had ended without federal charges against him. Gaetz’s political future remains uncertain. Upon being elected Attorney General, he suddenly resigned from his seat in Congress.That move was seen as a way to shut down ethical investigations into sexual misconduct allegations.