Congressman Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., resigned from the United States House of Representatives on Wednesday, November 13th, just hours before President-elect Donald Trump nominated him to serve as the next U.S. Attorney General. Trump praised Gaetz as “a deeply gifted and tenacious attorney” who would play a key role in restoring public trust in the Department of Justice (DOJ).
“I’m honored to announce that Congressman Matt Gaetz is hereby nominated to be the Attorney General of the United States,” Trump said in a statement. “He is a champion for the Constitution and the Rule of Law. Under Matt’s leadership, all Americans will be proud of the Department of Justice once again.”
Following his resignation, which Speaker Mike Johnson confirmed was effective immediately, Johnson remarked, “I think out of deference to us, he issued his resignation letter effective immediately. That caught us by surprise a little bit. But I asked him what the reasoning was, and he said, well, you can’t have too many absences.”
Despite Trump’s endorsement, Gaetz’s nomination could face significant hurdles. Several Republican senators have expressed reservations about his confirmation, referencing past controversies, including a yearlong DOJ investigation into allegations of inappropriate conduct. Although no charges were filed, some senators remain doubtful about Gaetz’s confirmation prospects. “He will never get confirmed,” one anonymous Republican senator told Fox News. “Ain’t gonna happen,” another source added.
The news of Gaetz’s resignation and nomination came as House Republicans gathered for leadership elections, where the announcement reportedly caused “audible gasps” among lawmakers.
As Gaetz now prepares for his confirmation battle, the future of his congressional seat and his potential role as Attorney General will be closely monitored as his next steps unfold.
