Matt Gaetz To Exit Congress Following Withdrawal As DOJ Nominee Amid Controversy

Former U.S. Representative Matt Gaetz has announced that he will not return to Congress next year, just one day after stepping down as President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee to lead the Department of Justice. 

Gaetz’s withdrawal came amid ongoing allegations of drug use and sexual misconduct with minors, which he has consistently denied.  

“I’m still going to be in the fight, but it’s going to be from a new perch,” Gaetz said during an interview with right-wing activist Charlie Kirk. “I do not intend to join the 119th Congress.”  

Gaetz, a Republican from Florida, had been re-elected to his congressional seat but resigned from Congress last week when Trump nominated him for the role of Attorney General. At the time, Gaetz indicated he did not plan to reclaim his seat even if his nomination failed.  

Speculation arose over whether Gaetz would attempt to return to the House of Representatives after his withdrawal, but his decision to step away solidifies his exit. 

“Pam Bondi’s confirmation won’t have the same sharp edges mine would have,” Gaetz remarked, referring to Trump’s decision to nominate former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi as his replacement for the DOJ role. 

“I had a full-time job explaining to senators that maybe a tweet I sent about them was rash.”  

Gaetz’s nomination faced significant obstacles in the Senate, largely due to an ongoing House ethics investigation into allegations of having sex with a 17-year-old girl and illicit drug use. 

While Gaetz has denied the accusations, they cast a shadow over his ability to secure Senate confirmation for the nation’s top law enforcement role.  

The decision to resign from Congress leaves Republicans with an even slimmer majority in the House next year. 

The GOP has secured 218 seats compared to the Democrats’ 214, with two of the three remaining races leaning Republican. Gaetz’s vacant seat in Florida will require a special election to determine his successor, though a date has yet to be scheduled.  

Gaetz is the first cabinet-level nominee for Trump’s incoming administration to withdraw, though others have faced scrutiny. Fox News personality Pete Hegseth, Trump’s nominee for Secretary of Defense, has also come under fire over allegations of sexual assault.  

Despite the controversy, Gaetz offered praise for Bondi, predicting she will have an easier path to Senate confirmation. Trump has not yet publicly commented on Gaetz’s withdrawal.  

A spokesperson for Gaetz did not immediately respond to requests for further comment.

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