### Matt Gaetz Withdraws from Trump Attorney General Consideration

In a surprising turn of events, former Republican Rep. Matt Gaetz has decided to withdraw his nomination for the position of Attorney General in President-elect Donald Trump's new administration. Gaetz stated that his confirmation process had unfortunately become a significant distraction from the essential work of the Trump/Vance Transition team.

"I had excellent meetings with Senators yesterday," Gaetz shared on a post on X, expressing both gratitude for their feedback and support from many quarters. Despite strong momentum, Gaetz noted the distraction his confirmation had caused and emphasized the importance of a smooth transition for Trump's Department of Justice to be operational from Day 1.

Gaetz announced that he informed President Trump of his decision on Thursday morning. President Trump, who had actively been securing Senate support for Gaetz, publicly acknowledged Gaetz's efforts and stated that the decision to withdraw was Gaetz's own. Trump commended Gaetz for his bright future, expressing eagerness to witness Gaetz's continued contributions.

The nomination of Gaetz, a conservative figure in Congress who resigned his seat following the nomination, had initially taken many by surprise, including several Republicans on Capitol Hill and members within the Justice Department. Gaetz has been under intense scrutiny due to sexual misconduct allegations, which he has consistently denied. The House Ethics Committee was reportedly near the conclusion of its investigation into these allegations when Trump announced Gaetz's nomination last Wednesday.

As discussions unfolded on Capitol Hill, many anticipated that the allegations and the potentially revealing House Ethics report would dominate Gaetz's confirmation hearings. Sen. John Cornyn even likened the potential hearings to "Kavanaugh on steroids," indicating the level of contentious debate that was expected.

According to sources close to the Trump team, it became apparent in recent days that Gaetz lacked sufficient Senate support to secure confirmation, leading to his ultimate withdrawal.

Karoline Leavitt, spokesperson for the Trump-Vance transition team, emphasized that President Trump is focused on appointing a leader for the Department of Justice committed to defending the Constitution and ending what they described as the weaponization of the justice system. Trump's administration plans to fill top roles at the Justice Department with Todd Blanche designated as Deputy Attorney General and Emil Bove as Principal Associate Deputy Attorney General.

As the search continues for a new candidate to lead the Justice Department, Trump reiterated his commitment to ensuring the department is ready to function effectively from the first day of his administration.