WASHINGTON — Embattled former U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz withdrew his attorney general nomination on Thursday after questions surrounding his sexual misconduct allegations reached a fever-pitch.
President-elect Donald Trump selected Gaetz for the position one week ago, but promptly faced pressure from outside and within his party for the unreleased House Ethics committee probe into allegations of illicit drug use and sexual misconduct.
At the time of his prospective nomination, the House Ethics Committee faced heightened pressure to release the report detailing his alleged misconduct. Two women had testified to the Republican-led committee that Gaetz had on various occasions paid them for sex during his House tenure, according to NBC News, citing one of the women’s lawyers, adding that he had a witness which said one of the women was a minor.
Gaetz resigned from his seat in Congress before the release of the report, while House Republicans opposed its publication as he was no longer a lawmaker under the committee’s jurisdiction.
Senate Republicans will hold a 53-seat majority in the next Congress, allowing them to sustain some defections on confirmation votes. However, several Senators expressed concern about the allegations against Gaetz.
Most Republicans, such as outgoing Sen. Mike Braun of Indiana, said they are not surprised by the announcement.
“I would say that from everything that built up to this point, this doesn’t surprise me,” Braun said. “I think [Trump] deserves the cabinet that he wants … but you gotta be careful how far you push the envelope.”
Others were hesitant to predict who Trump might pick as his next nominee. “I’m sure Trump is going to take a good look at the candidates and make a good selection,” Sen. Eric Schmitt, R-Mo., said. He went on to criticize what he calls President Joe Biden’s “weaponiz[ation] of the department.”
Schmitt, who previously served as Attorney General of Missouri, withdrew his name from the shortlist of A.G. candidates on November 14, reiterating that he believes his best role over the next four years will be in the Senate.
Some senators, including Mike Rounds, R-S.D., said that they hadn’t opposed Gaetz’s nomination, but noted the internal concern about the candidacy and desire to avoid a contentious floor vote.
“It’s not unexpected, and the Senate has a responsibility for advice and consent. Sometimes advice is offered, sometimes consent,” Rounds said. “In this particular case, I would suspect that maybe there was advice being provided.”
Sen. Rick Scott, R-Fla., expressed disappointment in his decision. “I had a good working relationship with him,” Scott said. “He’s a hard worker, and he’s smart as hell.”
Democrats were cautiously optimistic about the announcement, but said they are concerned about who Trump may choose to replace him.
“It’s unsurprising given his unsuitability for the job,” Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., said. “But, who knows who he could choose next.”
