Former U.S. Representative Matt Gaetz (R-FL) has withdrawn his name from consideration as Donald Trump’s attorney general, citing a lack of Senate support. The withdrawal comes amid resurfaced allegations of child sex trafficking and a deeper dive into Gaetz’s controversial past.
In a report titled “Gaetz’s Bad Boy Image Finally Catches Up With Him,” Orlando Sentinel reporter Jeffrey Schweers outlines the former congressman’s long history of legal and personal controversies. Schweers writes, “The rightwing firebrand, political prankster, steadfast Trump defender, and party animal stepped down as the president-elect’s choice for Attorney General once it was made clear to him he didn’t have the needed support in the U.S. Senate.”
Schweers highlights that senators from both parties were shocked by Gaetz’s nomination. “One [senator] called him ‘a not serious candidate,’ and others demanded more details about the sex scandals swirling around him for the past few years,” the report notes.
The article delves into Gaetz’s earlier career as an attorney, painting a picture of a lawyer with a modest and unremarkable caseload. “As a junior lawyer, Gaetz handled mostly run-of-the-mill cases,” Schweers writes. These included traffic infractions, negligence claims, and disputes over beach volleyball net placement. However, even his legal career wasn’t free of controversy.
“After less than a year as a lawyer, Gaetz was pulled over for speeding in his father’s BMW and arrested for drunk driving,” the report states. “He refused a breathalyzer test, and the charges were dropped.” Gaetz later faced professional reprimands, including having his law license suspended in 2021 for unpaid fees and being cited for failing to maintain continuing education requirements in 2023.
Gaetz’s political career, launched in 2010 as a Tea Party Republican in the Florida House, was similarly marked by polarizing positions. He defended Florida’s “stand-your-ground” law, opposed the Affordable Care Act, and advocated for medical marijuana legalization. In Congress, his combative style and controversial votes drew attention, including his lone opposition to an anti-human trafficking bill in 2017.
Despite his scandals, Gaetz hinted at a potential political comeback. On Saturday, he suggested his next move might be a run for governor of Florida. Whether Gaetz’s notoriety will bolster or hinder his future ambitions remains uncertain, but his polarizing persona continues to draw both staunch supporters and vocal critics.