Controversial pick for US attorney-general, Matt Gaetz, has withdrawn his nomination for the role following days of pushback concerning sexual misconduct allegations against him.
Last week, president-elect Donald Trump announced he had chosen Gaetz, a far-right former Florida congressman, for attorney-general – a role that oversees the US Department of Justice.
The Department of Justice had previously investigated Gaetz over allegations of sex trafficking, while the House of Representatives Ethics Committee has separately investigated Gaetz over sexual misconduct allegations involving a minor and illicit drug use.
Gaetz, who denies all allegations, withdrew as the nominee for attorney-general on Thursday, writing that his nomination was “unfairly becoming a distraction” to the work of the incoming Trump administration.
“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,” Gaetz said in a statement on X.
“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.”
Trump responded to the decision, writing: “I greatly appreciate the recent efforts of Matt Gaetz in seeking approval to be Attorney General. He 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!”
Before Gaetz’s withdrawal, Democrats had been pressing for the release of the ethics committee report into the Gaetz investigation after Republicans on the committee’s panel voted not to release the report.
According to a report from CNN, sources said that the woman at the centre of the investigation had told the committee that she had two sexual encounters with Gaetz when she was 17-years-old at a party in 2017.
Gaetz’s nomination for attorney-general was subject to approval by the Republican-controlled Senate. Many lawmakers, including some Senate Republicans, had expressed concern about his nomination.
On Friday morning (Australian time), Trump announced former Florida Attorney-General Pam Bondi will replace Gaetz as his pick for attorney-general. Bondi is an ally of Trump’s and was one of his lawyers during his first impeachment trial.
“I am proud to announce former Attorney General of the Great State of Florida, Pam Bondi, as our next Attorney General of the United States. Pam was a prosecutor for nearly 20 years, where she was very tough on Violent Criminals, and made the streets safe for Florida Families. Then, as Florida’s first female Attorney General, she worked to stop the trafficking of deadly drugs, and reduce the tragedy of Fentanyl Overdose Deaths, which have destroyed many families across our Country,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.