In a dramatic turn of events, Congressman Matt Gaetz announced his resignation from Congress on Wednesday evening, moments after President Trump revealed his nomination for U.S. Attorney General. Trump’s pick of the outspoken Florida lawmaker signals a bold move as he prepares to begin his second term with a reshuffled cabinet that promises to bring fireworks.
“It is my Great Honor to announce that Congressman Matt Gaetz, of Florida, is hereby nominated to be The Attorney General of the United States,” Trump declared. “Matt is a deeply gifted and tenacious attorney, trained at the William & Mary College of Law, who has distinguished himself in Congress through his focus on achieving desperately needed reform at the Department of Justice.” Gaetz’s nomination comes as no surprise to those who have followed his career; the congressman has been one of Trump’s staunchest allies and a fierce critic of the current DOJ, frequently calling out what he sees as politically motivated prosecutions.
The announcement of Gaetz’s resignation caught many on Capitol Hill off guard, including House Speaker Mike Johnson, who confirmed the news. “I think out of deference to us, he issued his resignation letter effective immediately,” Johnson stated. “That caught us by surprise a little bit. But I asked him what the reasoning was, and he said, well, you can’t have too many absences.” With Gaetz out of Congress, the spotlight now turns to Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, who has about eight weeks to fill the vacancy left by Gaetz.
Meanwhile, Gaetz’s sudden exit from Congress effectively brings an end to a years-long investigation by the House Ethics Committee. The probe, which was based on allegations of sexual misconduct, had been revived earlier this year despite the Biden DOJ dropping all charges against Gaetz in February 2023. The timing of the revived investigation raised eyebrows, as it coincided with Gaetz’s challenge to former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy. The Florida firebrand led the successful effort to oust McCarthy through a Motion to Vacate, making plenty of enemies among the GOP establishment in the process.
For his part, Gaetz has consistently denied any wrongdoing and dismissed the Ethics Committee’s investigation as a politically motivated smear campaign. “This investigation exists to do what the voters of my district won’t — remove me from office,” Gaetz remarked back in September.
The House Ethics Committee had been set to release a “damaging” report on Gaetz this Friday, but his resignation has thrown a wrench into those plans. With Gaetz no longer a sitting member of Congress, the committee loses its jurisdiction over him, leaving the report effectively dead in the water.
As Gaetz steps away from the House and into the role of Attorney General nominee, one thing is certain: he’s not going quietly. His transition from controversial congressman to Trump’s pick for the nation’s top law enforcement post guarantees that Gaetz will continue to be a polarizing and influential figure in Washington. Expect fireworks as the Senate prepares for what is sure to be a contentious confirmation process.
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