Matt Gaetz Withdraws From Consideration as Attorney General

Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) speaks on the third day of the Republican National Convention at the Fiserv Forum on July 17 in Milwaukee, Wis. Photo: Alex Wong/Getty Images

Erin Doherty, Axios

Matt Gaetz said Thursday that he is withdrawing his name from consideration for attorney general in President-elect Trump's second term. 

Why it matters: The right-wing firebrand, who resigned from Congress after Trump nominated him, was one of the president-elect's most controversial Cabinet picks and his pathway to the confirmation appeared tenuous.

• It's the first setback for Trump in placing his allies in key Cabinet positions. The attorney general candidate is especially important for Trump — and he has signaled plans to overhaul the Justice Department in his second term. 

Driving the news: Gaetz in a post on the social media platform X on Thursday said that, "while the momentum was strong, it is clear that my confirmation was unfairly becoming a distraction to the critical work of the Trump/Vance Transition." 

• "There is no time to waste on a needlessly protracted Washington scuffle, thus I'll be withdrawing my name from consideration to serve as Attorney General," he wrote. 

The big picture: Gaetz's announcement comes one day after the House Ethics Committee — which had been investigating him over allegations of sex trafficking, corruption and drug use — voted against releasing a report of its findings.

• Gaetz resigned after Trump announced that he would nominate him for AG, raising questions about whether the House Ethics Committee report would ever be made public.

Between the lines: Trump this week had been personally lobbying for the embattled lawmaker, personally calling senators to urge them to confirm Gaetz, Axios' Juliegrace Brufke and Hans Nichols scooped. 

• But the math for Gaetz was tight, with him just able to just lose three votes to be confirmed. 

• Gaetz and Vice President-elect JD Vance met with Senate Republicans on Capitol Hill earlier this week to try to gin up support for the controversial nominee. 

What they're saying: Trump in a post on Truth Social after the announcement said that Gaetz "was doing very well but, at the same time, did not want to be a distraction for the administration, for which he has much respect."

• "Matt has a wonderful future, and I look forward to watching all of the great things he will do!" Trump said. 

Zoom in: Gaetz, who was also investigated by the Justice Department over sex trafficking allegations, has denied wrongdoing. The Justice Department did not bring charges against Gaetz last year.