Former Florida state representative Matt Gaetz has announced that he is withdrawing his candidacy from President-elect Donald Trump's nomination for attorney general, writing on social media that his appointment is "an unfair distraction." UNN reports this with reference to CNN.
Goetz's recall followed meetings with Republican senators this week as Trump's transition team tried to assess whether he could get enough GOP support to be confirmed. Democrats, in turn, insisted on a public report from the House Ethics Committee on the former congressman.
"I had great meetings with senators yesterday. I appreciate their thoughtful feedback and the incredible support from so many. While momentum was strong, it is clear that my confirmation unfairly distracted from the important work of the Trump/Vance transition," Goetz wrote on X.
"There is no time to waste on a useless, protracted quarrel in Washington, so I will withdraw my candidacy for the post of attorney general. Trump's Justice Department must be ready for day one," the politician added.
Democrats pushed for the release of a House Ethics Committee report detailing its investigation of Goetz, including allegations of sexual harassment and other crimes, after committee Republicans voted Wednesday not to make the results public.
Goetz vehemently denied the allegations investigated by the Justice Department and the committee, including that he had sexual intercourse with a minor in 2017.
CNN reported that sources familiar with her testimony said the woman told the ethics committee that she had two sexual encounters with the politician at a single party in 2017 when she was 17. She testified that the second sexual encounter, which had not been previously reported, involved another adult woman.
After Goetz was asked to comment on the CNN story, the politician announced his resignation from the post of attorney general after Trump took office.
Numerous sources also reported that while Goetz's meetings with GOP senators on Wednesday were not negative, it became clear that they had said too many firm "no's" and that the information expected from the ethics report would likely make it impossible for Goetz to be confirmed.
While Trump was fully committed to supporting Goetz and believed that he was the right person.
Recall
Trump has chosen other controversial candidates for his administration, including former Fox News host Pete Hagel (who has been accused of sexual assault) as Secretary of Defense and Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as Secretary of Health and Human Services.