Former US representative Matt Gaetz announced on Thursday that he is withdrawing his name from consideration for President-elect Donald Trump’s attorney general position, citing ongoing federal sex trafficking investigations that raised concerns about his suitability for the role. Gaetz said that his potential confirmation was becoming a distraction from the important work of the Trump/Vance transition.
“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 Transition. There is no time to waste on a needlessly protracted Washington scuffle, thus I’ll be withdrawing my name from consideration to serve as Attorney General,” Gaetz posted on the social media platform X.
However, this isn’t the first time Gaetz has faced controversy. From inviting an internet troll to Trump‘s state of the union address to his clashes with White House leader Kevin McCarthy, Gaetz has frequently made headlines. Here are some of his most notable controversies:
When Matt invited an internet troll to Trump’s state of the union address
One of Gaetz’s early controversial moments came in 2018 when he invited Charles C Johnson, a notorious internet troll, to attend Trump’s first state of the union address. Gaetz explained to The Daily Beast that the invitation happened because Johnson “showed up at my office.” Despite backlash, Gaetz defended Johnson—who had previously questioned the death toll of 6 million Jews during the Holocaust—telling Fox Business that Johnson was “not a Holocaust denier” and “not a white supremacist.”
Backlash over personal attack on Michael Cohen
On the eve of Michael Cohen‘s testimony before the House Oversight Committee in February 2019, Gaetz launched a sharp personal attack on X.
“Do your wife & father-in-law know about your girlfriends? Maybe tonight would be a good time for that chat,” Gaetz tweeted. “I wonder if she’ll remain faithful when you’re in prison. She’s about to learn a lot.”
The tweet sparked outrage among House Democrats, prompting Gaetz to delete it and issue a rare apology.
“While it is important to create context around the testimony of liars like Michael Cohen, it was NOT my intent to threaten, as some believe I did,” Gaetz wrote, referencing then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s criticism of his comments. “I’m deleting the tweet & I should have chosen words that better showed my intent. I’m sorry.”
Democrats called for an ethics investigation into the incident. While the House Ethics Committee later cleared Gaetz of wrongdoing, it criticized him for conduct that did not “reflect creditably upon the House of Representatives.” The Florida Bar, which also reviewed the matter, reached a similar conclusion, clearing Gaetz while condemning his actions.
Sex-trafficking allegations against Gaetz
In the final months of the Trump administration, the US justice department launched an investigation into sex-trafficking allegations involving Gaetz and a 17-year-old girl. The investigation, which lasted nearly three years, sought to determine whether Gaetz had paid for the girl’s travel in violation of sex trafficking laws, among other allegations.
According to Gaetz’s colleagues, the congressman had boasted about his sexual encounters and even showed off nude photos of women.
However, Gaetz denied all allegations of wrongdoing. His office said in 2023 that prosecutors had informed him he would not face charges.
When Gaetz’s ‘Wingman’ was sentenced to 11 years
Joel Greenberg, a convicted fraudster who cooperated extensively with the justice department’s sex-trafficking investigation into Gaetz, was sentenced to 11 years in prison by a federal judge in Florida in 2022. Gaetz had referred to Greenberg, the former Seminole County tax collector, as his “wingman.”
Greenberg had previously pleaded guilty to charges including underage sex trafficking, wire fraud, stalking, identity theft, producing a fake ID, and conspiring to defraud the US government.
The revelations surrounding Greenberg sparked widespread media attention, with journalists investigating Gaetz’s Venmo transactions with Greenberg and other reports detailing his behavior in the Florida House, including a claim about a “Harry Potter”-themed sex competition.
When ethics committee launched an investigation
The House Ethics Committee launched its investigation into Matt Gaetz’s sexual misconduct and other allegations in 2021. While the investigation was initially put on hold due to pending charges from the justice department, the committee resumed its inquiry in May 2023.
The committee, known for its discretion, publicly stated it was looking into whether Gaetz had been involved in sexual misconduct, illegal drug use, accepted improper gifts, or obstructed investigations.
According to The New York Times, lawmakers were ready to vote on releasing their findings on Gaetz’s conduct. However, before they could proceed, the Florida Republican unexpectedly resigned. This came shortly after Trump had selected Gaetz as his nominee for attorney general.
Tense confrontation between Gaetz and McCarthy
Kevin McCarthy, then-House minority leader, was expected to become the next House speaker after Republicans regained control of the chamber in the 2022 midterms. However, Gaetz and a few other lawmakers had different intentions. Tensions peaked in January 2023 after the 14th vote failed, leading to a confrontation where representative Mike Rogers of Alabama, chair of the House Armed Services Committee, had to be physically restrained after lunging at Gaetz. Gaetz’s continued opposition to McCarthy had been a major obstacle to McCarthy securing the speaker’s position. McCarthy eventually won on the next ballot, and Rogers later apologised for his actions.
McCarthy ultimately secured the speaker’s position, but Gaetz and a group of conservative lawmakers continued to hold significant leverage over him. Under House rules, a single member could initiate the process to remove the speaker. In October 2023, Gaetz triggered this process by filing a motion to vacate, and with the support of seven other Republicans and House Democrats, McCarthy was ousted.
Gaetz claimed his push to remove McCarthy was driven by policy differences, but McCarthy has consistently argued that his removal was personal and motivated by revenge. McCarthy has also called for Gaetz to be jailed.
The tension between McCarthy and Gaetz was also evident at the 2024 Republican National Convention when Gaetz interrupted McCarthy during a TV interview, prompting McCarthy’s team to escort him away. “What night are you speaking?” Gaetz asked, disrupting McCarthy’s conversation.