The Republican former congressman said he was withdrawing from a run for attorney general — a post he had been handpicked by US President-elect Donald Trump, a controversial choice that .
“There is no time to waste in a protracted and pointless confrontation in Washington, so I will withdraw my name from the possibility of being Attorney General,” Gates wrote in a post on X. “Trump’s attorney general needs to be in place and ready from day one” of administration, he stressed.
The announcement came a day after the House Ethics Committee deadlocked over the release of a report alleging sexual harassment and illegal drug use by Gates, and after he met with Republican senators whose support he would need to become attorney general.
Since Gates’ nomination for the post was announced last week, there has been intense backlash in Congress.
Three years of investigations into the case of trafficking a 17-year-old girl
Yesterday, the House Ethics Committee failed to reach an agreement on whether or not to release a report into allegations of sexual misconduct against Matt Gates.
The Justice Department had been investigating Gates for nearly three years on charges of human trafficking involving a 17-year-old girl. His office had announced in 2023 that it had been told by prosecutors that no criminal charges would be brought against him.
However, the House Ethics Committee continued its investigation into Gates on charges of sexual misconduct, illegal drug use and possible obstruction of justice. Gates himself denies the accusations.
I had excellent meetings with Senators yesterday. I appreciate their thoughtful feedback – and the incredible support of so many. While the momentum was strong, it is clear that my confirmation was unfairly becoming a distraction to the critical work of the Trump/Vance…
— Matt Gaetz (@mattgaetz)
