Three of Trump's Cabinet selections face allegations of sexual misconduct
NBCNov 21
Gaetz Withdraws From Attorney General Consideration
Above: Matt Gaetz (L) and Vice Pres.-elect JD Vance (R) on Nov. 20, 2024. Image copyright: Kevin Dietsch/Staff/Getty Images News via Getty Images
The Facts
Former Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) said Thursday he is withdrawing his name from consideration as Pres.-elect Donald Trump's pick for US attorney general.
After meeting with Republican senators, Gaetz said he was withdrawing because "it is clear that my confirmation was unfairly becoming a distraction to the critical work of the Trump/Vance Transition."
The Spin
Republican narrative
As a profoundly gifted lawyer, Gaetz would have rooted out systemic corruption at the DOJ. Though his decision to withdraw his name is a setback for the president-elect, this is an unfortunate outcome of political witch-hunting and a smear campaign by the Washington establishment, who were terrified that Gaetz would have cleansed the institutional corruption and leftist lawfare that has ravaged America.
Democratic narrative
With a potentially damning congressional ethics report still hanging over his head, it was natural that he wouldn't have been allowed to shirk responsibility for his alleged sexual misconduct. So, Gaetz saw the writing on the wall that he wouldn't win enough GOP support to be confirmed and withdrew of his own volition to avoid having his name pulled publicly by Trump.