Trump loyalist Matt Gaetz withdraws from US attorney general consideration
Al Jazeera
The former congressman said he had become a ‘distraction’ following renewed scrutiny of sexual misconduct allegations.
US conservative firebrand Matt Gaetz has announced that he is withdrawing from consideration for United States attorney general following renewed focus on sexual misconduct allegations against him.
In a statement on social media on Thursday, just over one week after President-elect Donald Trump named Gaetz as his pick for the position of top federal prosecutor, the former Florida congressman said that he had become a “distraction”.
Gaetz, a divisive figure even within Trump’s Republican Party, faced the prospect of opposition to his nomination in the US Senate, where proposed cabinet members must pass a confirmation vote.
“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. Trump’s DOJ must be in place and ready on Day 1,” Gaetz said in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter.
“I remain fully committed to see that Donald J Trump is the most successful President in history.”
