Trump loyalist Matt Gaetz withdraws from US attorney general consideration

The erstwhile US congressman said he had go a ‘distraction’ pursuing renewed scrutiny of intersexual misconduct allegations.

US blimpish firebrand Matt Gaetz has announced that he is withdrawing from information for United States lawyer wide pursuing renewed attraction connected intersexual misconduct allegations against him.

In a connection connected societal media connected Thursday, conscionable complete 1 week aft President-elect Donald Trump named Gaetz arsenic his prime for nan position of apical national prosecutor, nan erstwhile Florida congressman said that he had go a “distraction”.

Gaetz, a divisive fig moreover wrong Trump’s Republican Party, faced nan imaginable of guidance to his information successful nan US Senate, wherever projected furniture members must walk a confirmation vote.

“There is nary clip to discarded connected a needlessly prolonged Washington scuffle, frankincense I’ll beryllium withdrawing my sanction from information to service arsenic Attorney General. Trump’s DOJ must beryllium successful spot and fresh connected Day 1,” Gaetz said successful a station connected X, formerly known arsenic Twitter.

“I stay afloat committed to spot that Donald J Trump is nan astir successful President successful history.”

I had fantabulous meetings pinch Senators yesterday. I admit their thoughtful feedback – and nan unthinkable support of truthful many. While nan momentum was strong, it is clear that my confirmation was unfairly becoming a distraction to nan captious activity of nan Trump/Vance…

— Matt Gaetz (@mattgaetz) November 21, 2024

Gaetz’s history of picking fights pinch high-level Republican leaders coupled pinch allegations that he had intersexual relations pinch a 17-year-old, a crime successful nan US wherever nan property of consent is 18, helped descend his chances. Gaetz has denied nan allegations of intersexual impropriety.

Trump, who has signalled his intent to wield nan powerfulness of nan authorities against governmental opponents, said successful a societal media station that he was “greatly” appreciative of Gaetz’s work.

“He was doing very good but, astatine nan aforesaid time, did not want to beryllium a distraction for nan Administration, for which he has overmuch respect,” Trump said successful a station connected his societal media tract Truth Social.

Gaetz’s past came nether scrutiny successful a activity trafficking probe by nan US Department of Justice (DOJ) that ended without charges against him past year.

He was besides nan taxable of an investigation by nan US House Ethics Committee complete allegations of intersexual misconduct, and an lawyer for 2 women told committee investigators that Gaetz paid them for activity connected aggregate occasions starting successful 2017. That committee debated whether to merchandise its study connected Gaetz pursuing Trump’s action of him arsenic lawyer general.

Joel Leppard, lawyer for nan 2 women, said that 1 female testified that she had seen Gaetz having activity pinch a 17-year-old woman astatine a statement successful Florida successful 2017. The female said that she did not deliberation Gaetz was alert that nan woman successful mobility was underage, and paused their narration until she turned 18, nan ineligible property of consent successful Florida.

“Matt has a awesome future, and I look guardant to watching each of nan awesome things he will do!” Trump said connected Thursday.

Gaetz resigned from nan US House of Representatives past week aft Trump announced him arsenic his prime for lawyer general. I was unclear whether Gaetz will return to his spot successful nan US Congress – to which he was re-elected for different 2 years connected November 5 – aliases activity different employment.

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Al Jazeera and news agencies