Matt Gaetz says he's not returning to Congress next year

[ificandream]

Source: CNN

By Kristen Holmes, CNN
Updated 12:09 PM EST, Fri November 22, 2024

Former Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz, who withdrew from consideration as President-elect Donald Trump’s pick for attorney general on Thursday, said Friday he will not be returning to Congress next year. “I’m still going to be in the fight, but it’s going to be from a new perch. I do not intend to join the 119th Congress,” he told Charlie Kirk in an interview.

Gaetz, first elected in 2016, had resigned from the House earlier this month after Trump selected him to lead the Department of Justice and before the House Ethics Committee could release a report about its investigation into him, including alleged sexual misconduct, which he has denied. The fate of the report — and whether it would be released with him no longer in Congress — had resulted in an animated debate on Capitol Hill about whether he could be confirmed.

In the wake of Gaetz’s withdrawal as Trump’s pick, senior congressional leaders in both parties had been scrambling to determine if Gaetz could return to the House next year after winning reelection this fall.

“There are a number of fantastic Floridians who’ve stepped up to run for my seat, people who have inspired with their heroism, with their public service. And I’m actually excited to see Northwest Florida go to new heights and have great representation,” Gaetz told Kirk.



Read more: https://www.cnn.com/2024/11/22/politics/gaetz-not-rejoining-congress/index.html

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Then-Rep. Matt Gaetz attends the 2024 Republican National Convention at the Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, on July 16, 2024. Patrick T. FallonAFP/Getty Images/File

[yourout]

1. He belongs in a federal pen.

[Harker]

9. Yes. A "perch" in a cage. n/t

[dalton99a]

2. Trump will give him a cushy job that doesn't require confirmation

[TBF]

3. Gaetz is free to grift now -

done with Congress, not going to be in the Cabinet. He is for sale to the highest bidder now. Probably wants to join the media and grift with the rest of them ... beats working.

[FakeNoose]

14. Yes, but he still needs access to Chump

If he has it, maybe he'll get Tucker Carlson's old job at Faux Noise?

[hlthe2b]

4. Before we celebrate, it is not unlikely he's made a deal for the Rubio Senate seat...

Improbable that Trump would pick him over his daughter-in-law? Maybe, but he is ruthless and it would let him force DeSantos to "bend the knee" once again to his oversized butt.

Yes, Gaetz would likely be happier finding a way to be a big-mouthed "celebrity" guest on Fox on a regular basis while grifting on the side. And the Senate certainly would not be pleased to see him, but...?

[FBaggins]

12. He won't get Rubio's seat - but you're correct that there's no reason to celebrate

It is likely all going precisely to plan

[ScratchCat]

5. So trump destroys another career

Its almost funny. By simply selecting him as AG, this guy's political career is over. Hadn't he just won re-election? If Trump wouldn't have named him, he'd be serving out another term.

Just another in the long list of Trump supporters who's life has been harmed or destroyed by Trump. When will they learn?

[groundloop]

8. Maybe not.... after all there was that ethics report thing.

[bluestarone]

6. Kinda tells me that this is PROOF

A deal was made to protect him from all courts.

[Maeve]

7. Well, that's ONE good thing

[HereForTheParty]

10. Special Prosecutor?

Fox News show?

[patphil]

11. Either he's going to get a position in the Trump govt. that doesn't need to be confirmed, or

he's going private sector, or that report was really bad.
Otherwise, he'd want to come back...after all, he won his district by a large margin.

[JustAnotherGen]

13. That report must be really bad

And it was enough for a few wannabe hormones to tell him to leave.

[samplegirl]

15. Bye asshole!