Former Representative Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) announced he will not rejoin Congress after stepping down earlier this term to pursue a now-abandoned bid to become attorney general under President-elect Donald Trump. The decision ends speculation about whether Gaetz might rescind his resignation and return to serve in the next session of Congress, for which he was already reelected.
Gaetz confirmed his plans during an appearance on The Charlie Kirk Show, where he explained his reasons for stepping away from congressional duties. “I think that eight years is probably enough time in the United States Congress,” he said, emphasizing his intention to focus on supporting the incoming Trump administration and spending more time with his family.
BREAKING: Matt Gaetz just said he does NOT intend to return to Congress and will instead focus on helping President Trump.
— George (@BehizyTweets) November 22, 2024
"We need a leadership structure under President Trump that's going to allow for durability of our movement… And so I'll play a part in that. I plan to be… pic.twitter.com/5b5MvSSvWI
The announcement came after Gaetz officially withdrew his name from consideration for attorney general.
The New York Post reports:
“There are a number of fantastic Floridians who stepped up to run for my seat, people who have inspired with their heroism, with their public service,” added Gaetz, who teased that he would still be involved in public service from a “different perch.”
“I think that eight years is probably enough time in the United States Congress,” he said.
“I plan to be a big voice, but maybe not as an elected member of the government.”
…
The Floridian announced he was bowing out of consideration for the cabinet post after it became clear he could not win over enough skeptical Republican senators to be confirmed, due in part to a pending House ethics report into allegations that Gaetz had engaged in sex with a minor, used illicit drugs and taken bribes — among other transgressions.
The decision to permanently step away from Congress marks the end of Gaetz’s tenure as a controversial yet prominent Republican lawmaker. His focus now shifts to advancing the Trump administration’s agenda outside the halls of Congress.
Gaetz’s departure closes a chapter on his legislative career while opening new opportunities to work closely with Trump’s administration.
This is a breaking news story. Please check back for updates.
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you ran for reelection and won. And NOW you’re quitting. Something doesn’t seem right here. NOW you’re saying 8 years is enough?
so what happens with your seat now? We need a Republican in there.
You Dems and RINO slandering morons just made Gaetz a private contractor.
Now he’s MORE, “dangerous” AND useful for the gutter cleaning coming up in January
So fun to watch a good chess game. A little one sided, but satisfying all the same.
THE DOJ tried to blackmail Gaetz’s father to the tune of $25,000,000 yes, that’s MILLION
But plan didnt work, the DOJ got NOTHING and someone else was sent to jail on basically the same charges.
THE US GOVT IS SO CORRUPT.
MAGA Baby
I really wish he would have held on. Everybody especially the republicans give in to the democrats. The first thing democrats do is bring up sex stuff, accusations and even if they are true, they are nowhere near the sex stuff democrats do and have done. One democrat took daily walks into the congress young men’s dormitories where he picked up young men for sex and the young men were working for the congress for experience in govt. This went on for years in public buildings until finally someone stood up and got the training shut down but nothing happened to the congressmen involved in the sex stuff. Gaetz was not charged after an investigation so why is he letting these democrats with sex always on their brains win. Every time these democrats bring up this sex crap against someone whom they hate they should be charged for harassment, anything to force it out in the open and stop this damaging of reputations just so the democrats can win. And for those who don’t believe me, look how all the charges against appointees on the Supreme Court and Trump charges are always sexual activities that only sexual perverts dream up.
Too bad but maybe for the best.
I like Matt Gaetz