The former MP Matt Gaetz who on Thursday withdrew his nomination for attorney general from President-elect Donald Trump due to accusations of sexual misconduct and illegal drug use, said in an interview Friday that He has no intention of regaining his place. in the House of Representatives during the next legislature.
“I will fight for President Trump. “I’m going to do what he asks, like I always have,” Gaetz said Friday in an interview with conservative activist Charlie Kirk. “But I think eight years is probably enough in the United States Congress,” he added.
Mast Gaetz He withdrew his bid to become Trump’s U.S. attorney general on Thursday, accused of having sex with a minor under 17 and using illegal drugs. He has denied any wrongdoing.
Gaetz, who until last week was a member of Congress, was investigated by the Justice Department, although he was never charged, for a case of sexual relations with minorsviolating laws on human trafficking, as well as drug use.
At the same time, he was the subject of a second investigation, opened a few days ago, within the ethics committee of the House of Representatives, which, according to the American media, had testimonies from at least one minor.
Gaetz resigned his seat last week, just after Trump nominated him, in a move apparently intended to avoid the House investigation and which took place before he was confirmed for the new position .
However, upon leaving Congress, he led the Lower House Ethics Committee towas wrong its jurisdiction over the investigation carried out against him for accusations of having had sexual relations with minors.
His nomination had become a conflict between Democrats and Republicans, but also internally between conservatives, with many lawmakers demanding the publication of the ethics committee’s investigation.
A year ago, Gaetz became a key player in the internal struggle that brought down then-Speaker of the House of Representatives, Kevin McCarthywith whom he had personal disagreements.
Trump decided to nominate former Florida attorney general Pam Bondi after Gaetz retired.
Gaetz himself welcomed Bondi’s appointment in this Friday’s interview and argued that was the victim of an alleged “smear” campaign of Washington.
