By Steve Neavling
President-elect Donald Trump announced Wednesday that he has selected Rep. Matt Gaetz as his nominee for attorney general.
If confirmed by the Senate, Gaetz — a staunch Trump ally known for his fiery rhetoric — would assume leadership of the Justice Department.
“Matt is a deeply gifted and tenacious attorney, trained at the William & Mary College of Law, who has distinguished himself in Congress through his focus on achieving desperately needed reform at the Department of Justice,” Trump said in a post on social media.
Following the announcement, House Speaker Mike Johnson confirmed that Gaetz had resigned from Congress, effective immediately, ABC News reports.
The resignation also halts the House Ethics Committee’s investigation into Gaetz.
Johnson said the resignation caught him by “surprise,” but that Gaetz made the decision to “start the clock” on the process for Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis to call a special election for his seat.
“So Matt would have done us a great service by making that decision, as he did, on the fly. And so we’re grateful for that so we move forward,” Johnson added.
Gaetz’s departure will slightly reduce the Republican majority in the new Congress, though his Florida Panhandle district is expected to remain reliably Republican.
Tom Rust, chief counsel and staff director for the House Ethics Committee, declined to comment on the resignation.
Gaetz’s nomination by Trump as attorney general is seen as a provocative choice, given his history with the Justice Department, which concluded last year that it would not pursue charges against him. Gaetz has consistently denied any wrongdoing.
The House Ethics Committee was reportedly nearing the end of its investigation into allegations of sexual misconduct and drug use involving Gaetz at the time of Trump’s announcement, according to sources familiar with the inquiry. Those sources told ABC News the committee had planned to meet this week to discuss a potential final report on the matter.
Asked if this was going to be a “recess appointment”, Matt responded “I hope not” as I am not allowed within 200 yards of a school!