Former Florida Republican elected official Matt Gaetz, chosen by Donald Trump to head the Department of Justice, announced Thursday, November 21, that he was relinquishing this post, after a week of controversy sparked by this choice.
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“ Despite strong momentum, it is clear that the confirmation of my nomination was unfairly becoming a distraction from the crucial task of the Trump/Vance transition team », he explained on X the day after a meeting with senators in preparation for the Senate hearings next year to confirm his nomination.
“ There is no time to waste in a needlessly prolonged fight in Washington, which is why I will withdraw from the nomination process for Minister of Justice “, he added.
Matt Gaetz, who was the subject of an investigation by the House of Representatives in particular for alleged sexual offenses, resigned from this assembly on November 13 shortly after the announcement of the choice of president-elect.
Donald Trump endorsed his withdrawal, expressing to him on his Truth Social network his “ respect » for this decision and promising him a “ bright future “. The choice of Matt Gaetz for the strategic Department of Justice caused a stir both because of the very controversial nature of the character and his lack of legal experience.
End of the ethics commission investigation
His resignation put de facto an end to the investigation by the House Ethics Committee into paid sexual relations, including with a minor, which he denies, illegal consumption of narcotics, embezzlement of campaign funds and various professional misconduct.
Republican leaders, including the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mike Johnson, say that this report is no longer relevant since the investigation is closed. But elected officials from both sides called for it to at least be sent to the Senate. During a closed-door meeting on Wednesday, the two camps were unable to agree on the follow-up to this investigation.
Matt Gaetz is accused of having had a sexual relationship with a 17-year-old girl, which he denies, and was the subject of a federal investigation which was dismissed. The investigation by the ethics commission launched in 2021 focuses in particular on accusations of inappropriate sexual behavior – prostitution being notably illegal in Florida – and drug consumption.
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