Former Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., announced Thursday that he would withdraw his name as newly elected President Donald Trump’s attorney general.
Gaetz’s path was marred by a series of allegations of sexual misconduct, including sex with a minor at a party in 2017. On Thursday, NBC News learned from a source familiar with the discussions that the House Ethics Committee, which had investigated Gaetz, too was told that a 17-year-old girl had two sexual encounters with the then-congressman at the party.
The description of the second meeting was included in her testimony before the House Ethics Committee, as well as in a deposition in a related civil lawsuit. The second sexual encounter involved another adult woman, the source said.
CNN was the first to report on the new allegations. Gaetz has repeatedly denied allegations of sexual misconduct.
“It is clear that my appointment unfairly became a distraction from the critical work of the Trump/Vance transition,” Gaetz wrote on X on Thursday.
“There is no time to waste on a needlessly protracted scuffle in Washington, so I will withdraw my name from serving as attorney general. Trump’s DOJ must be in place and ready on Day 1,” he added.
Trump praised Gaetz on Truth Social, saying he had done “very well” in the confirmation process.
“I greatly appreciate Matt Gaetz’s recent efforts in obtaining approval to become Attorney General. He did very well, but at the same time he did not want to be a distraction for the government, for which he has great respect. Matt did that too. a bright future, and I look forward to seeing all the great things he will do!” Trump wrote.
There was a general sense of relief at the Justice Department after Gaetz withdrew his name, with one official telling NBC News: “Certain events, like the sun chasing away the darkness of night, are not surprising, they are expected. But that doesn’t stop me from being grateful for every sunrise.”
The office added, “I now know what the first feather will be on my gratitude turkey handprint this Thanksgiving.”
Another Justice Department official called the move “such a relief” before adding that it is “hard to imagine [Trump] call someone worse. But we’ll see.”
Trump did not immediately name a new attorney general pick. His spokesperson Karoline Leavitt said he “remains committed to electing a leader for the Department of Justice who will vigorously defend the Constitution and end the weaponization of our justice system.”
Two Trump transition sources with direct knowledge of Gaetz’s decision told NBC News that Gaetz informed Trump of his decision Thursday morning. It was Gaetz’s decision to choose to withdraw.
One of the sources acknowledged that Gaetz’s nomination was always going to be an uphill battle and said Trump is expected to face a new round of attorney general nominees “very soon,” with no particular person at the top of the list. It is unclear what that means for Todd Blanche, who Trump had appointed as Gaetz’s deputy.
A third source close to Trump told NBC News that the transition team “welcomed” Gaetz’s withdrawal and added that “the [House Ethics] The report started leaking and there was no way Matt could make it.”
Gaetz, who Trump named as his pick for attorney general last week, was also investigated by the Justice Department — the department he would have led had he been confirmed — in connection with allegations of sex trafficking and sex with a minor. Gaetz has vehemently denied these allegations, and the investigation ended when the Justice Department chose not to charge him.
He resigned from the House of Representatives last week, effectively ending the Ethics Commission investigation. The committee has investigated the allegations against him on and off since 2021.
Earlier this week, an attorney for two women who claim Gaetz paid them for sex detailed some of the testimony they gave to the Ethics Commission this year, including one who said she witnessed Gaetz having sex with a 17 year old.
“My clients are relieved to have this chapter behind them and are eager to move on with their lives,” attorney Joel Leppard said Thursday after Gaetz’s announcement. “We are hopeful that this will provide final closure for all parties involved.”
Committee members met Wednesday to discuss whether to release the report but failed to reach an agreement.
It is unclear what the Ethics Committee will do now that Gaetz has withdrawn. Members will meet again on December 5 where they will discuss the matter further.
At the Ethics Committee’s closed-door meeting on July 23, staffers told Chairman Michael Guest, R-Miss., that a draft report on the investigation had progressed to the point where it could be distributed to all committee members, according to transcripts from the meeting obtained by NBC. News.
Members and staff had gathered that day to oust Gaetz himself, but he never showed up.
Guest told reporters that Gaetz’s withdrawal should “end the discussion” for committee members about how to “move forward.”
“He is no longer a member of Congress, and therefore I believe this concludes any involvement of the Ethics Committee in matters involving Mr. Gaetz,” Guest said.
Several Democrats in the House of Representatives had called for the report to be made public. Some Senate Republicans, who should have voted on Gaetz’s confirmation, have publicly expressed their interest in reviewing the report as part of the confirmation process.
Trump and newly elected Vice President JD Vance maintained their strong support for Gaetz, with Trump even “working heavily on the phone” to drum up support for Gaetz.
Vance had been on Capitol Hill Thursday morning to set up meetings between senators and another controversial pick, Pete Hegseth for defense secretary, but he left the Capitol shortly before Gaetz made his announcement. Hegseth also faces allegations of misconduct, which he has denied.
House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., who opposed publicly releasing the ethics report, also left the building before Gaetz’s news broke; he and the House won’t return until after the Thanksgiving recess.
Senators from both sides of the aisle have expressed skepticism that he would get enough votes to be confirmed.
At least five Republicans in the Senate – Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, Susan Collins of Maine and Markwayne Mullin of Oklahoma and Senator-elect John Curtis of Utah – voted ‘no’ to Gaetz and had communicated this to other senators and relatives . told Trump they were unlikely to be swayed, according to five people with direct knowledge.
One of the sources said at least 20 and as many as 30 Senate Republicans felt very uncomfortable about having to vote for Gaetz. Gaetz could afford to lose just three Republicans in a floor vote if Vance were to cast a tie-breaking vote.
After meeting with Gaetz on Wednesday, Sens. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, and John Cornyn, R-Texas, told NBC News the subject of the allegations came up.
Ernst said Gaetz raised the allegations himself during their conversation.
“He was very outspoken, but that’s all I’m going to say because he’s going to go through a very fair confirmation process with Senator Grassley, and I think a lot of that will be washed away,” Ernst added. “I’m just waiting for my verdict.” Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, is the new chairman of the Judiciary Committee.
After Gaetz’s announcement Thursday, Collins told reporters that there were many “red flags” surrounding Gaetz and that withdrawing was the “best decision he could have made.”
“What I think it probably reflects is the meetings he had yesterday with senators as they went through the Judiciary Committee members. “I’m not sure, but I think he put the country first, and I’m happy with his decision,” she added.
Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., who publicly supported Gaetz’s nomination, wrote Thursday on serve society. government.”
Mullin told NBC News on Thursday that “I think it’s a good thing” that Gaetz quit. “There was no way, no way forward for him,” he said.
Gaetz said in his resignation that he would not take the oath of office in the new Congress. “I do not intend to take the oath of office for the same office in the 119th Congress to pursue the position of attorney general in the Trump administration,” he said.
It is unclear what his decision means for his seat in Congress.
This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
