Matt Gaetz resigns from Congress after Donald Trump appoints him AG

by Junna Base November 14, 2024

Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., has resigned from Congress, House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., announced Wednesday, the same day President-elect Donald Trump announced the Florida lawmaker as appointed its attorney general.

Johnson said Gaetz’s resignation was “effective immediately.” A special election will be held in Gaetz’s western Florida district to choose his successor.

The move ends an investigation into Gaetz by the House Ethics Committee. The panel announced in June that it would expand the investigation to include additional allegations. The committee is reviewing various allegations that Gaetz engaged in sexual misconduct and illegal drug use, accepted “inappropriate gifts” and granted special favors. Gaetz denied the allegations.

The speaker said he asked Gaetz about the reasons for his resignation from office and he cited a state law that requires “an eight-week period for the selection and filling of a vacant seat.”

“If you start the clock now and do the math, we may be able to fill this seat as early as January 3rd when we take the new oath of office for the new Congress,” Johnson said.

Republicans already have a razor-thin majority in the House of Representatives, and their control is likely to remain narrow in 2025. It could be even tighter if Gaetz’s seat isn’t filled early in Trump’s second term.

However, it was not immediately clear Wednesday whether Gaetz has the support to be confirmed in the Senate as Trump’s attorney general.

“I don’t think this is a serious nomination for attorney general,” said Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska. “We need a serious attorney general and I look forward to the opportunity to consider someone who is serious.”

The Florida Republican has been a vocal critic of the Justice Department and a staunch defender of Trump from his seat on the Judiciary Committee. Without evidence, Gaetz accused Attorney General Merrick Garland of weaponizing the department and called President Joe Biden “senile” in a hearing over his handling of classified documents.

Gaetz also accused FBI Director Christopher Wray of being “blissfully ignorant” of how agents conducted their investigations.

The Florida lawmaker has also railed against some of his fellow Republicans. He led the handful of GOP rebels last year who were instrumental in ousting former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Florida, from his leadership post.

“He’s a reformer in mind and heart, and I think he’ll have a lot to contribute to that,” Johnson said.

Contributor: Riley Beggin

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