Gaetz says he鈥檚 not rejoining Congress next year
Former Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz, who withdrew from consideration as President-elect Donald Trump鈥檚 pick for attorney general on Thursday, said Friday he will not be returning to Congress next year.
鈥淚鈥檓 still going to be in the fight, but it鈥檚 going to be from a new perch. I do not intend to join the 119th Congress,鈥� he told Charlie Kirk in .
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 鈥� and whether it would be released with him no longer in Congress 鈥� had resulted in an animated debate on Capitol Hill about whether he could be confirmed.
In the wake of Gaetz鈥檚 withdrawal as Trump鈥檚 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.
鈥淭here are a number of fantastic Floridians who鈥檝e stepped up to run for my seat, people who have inspired with their heroism, with their public service. And I鈥檓 actually excited to see Northwest Florida go to new heights and have great representation,鈥� Gaetz told Kirk.
He added: 鈥淚鈥檓 going to be fighting for President Trump. I鈥檓 going to be doing whatever he asks of me, as I always have. But I think that eight years is probably enough time in the United States Congress.鈥�
The former congressman, who has sat in on a number of transition meetings and given input, said he would continue to be part of staffing the next Trump administration.
He also praised Trump鈥檚 subsequent choice for attorney general, which the president-elect announced just hours after Gaetz withdrew his name 鈥� former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi.
鈥淚 am so excited about where this transition stands, and I know there are people disappointed that I won鈥檛 be the next attorney general, but you have to understand this is the political process, and sometimes the path you鈥檙e on is one that takes you to a different place, and it could be a glorious place,鈥� Gaetz told Kirk.
鈥淢y good friend Pam Bondi is going to be a phenomenal attorney general for Donald Trump. She has the legal acumen. She hates criminals. She is a bright legal mind and a fellow Floridian.鈥�
Gaetz 鈥� who said in his Thursday announcement that his selection 鈥渨as unfairly becoming a distraction鈥� 鈥� claimed in the interview that he had momentum with senators this week, but that 鈥淏ondi鈥檚 confirmation won鈥檛 have some of the sharp edges that mine would have.鈥�
