Donald Trump suffered a first failure in his campaign to appoint his loyalists to strategic positions in his future administration. Matt Gaetz, former Republican elected official from Florida, announced Thursday that he was renouncing his nomination for Minister of Justice. This withdrawal puts an end to a controversy fueled by the candidate's legal past and style.
Among the sensational and sometimes controversial appointments of the president-elect, that of Matt Gaetz was seen as one of the most contested. Known for his strong positions, his divisive personality, and an obvious lack of legal experience, Matt Gaetz faced growing opposition, even within Congress. Added to this were serious accusations against him, although he always denied them.
A withdrawal so as not to harm Donald Trump
In a message published on X, Matt Gaetz justified his withdrawal. “Despite strong momentum, it is clear that the confirmation of my nomination was unfairly becoming a distraction from the crucial task of the Trump/Vance transition team. “, he wrote. He added that there was “no time to waste in a needlessly prolonged fight in Washington”, and that he preferred to withdraw so as not to harm Donald Trump's transition agenda.
Donald Trump, who announced the nomination of Matt Gaetz shortly after the election, quickly reacted on his social network Truth Social. He welcomed the decision of the former elected official, affirming to maintain his support and respect for him. “I am convinced that Matt Gaetz has a bright future ahead of him,” he wrote, while emphasizing his desire to maintain the momentum of his nominations.
A relationship with a 17 year old minor
The controversy surrounding Matt Gaetz is not new. The former Florida representative is accused of having had a relationship with a 17-year-old minor, an allegation he categorically denies. Although a federal investigation was opened into the matter, it was dismissed due to lack of conclusive evidence. In addition, the Ethics Committee of the House of Representatives has been investigating other accusations since 2021, including inappropriate sexual behavior, drug use, embezzlement of campaign funds and various professional misconduct.
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After his resignation from the House on November 13, this parliamentary investigation was officially closed. However, several elected officials from both camps called for the conclusions of the investigation to be transmitted to the Senate, particularly in the context of the hearings for his nomination. The closed-door debates in Congress, however, did not make it possible to find a consensus on the treatment of this information.
Which candidate to replace Matt Gaetz?
Despite the withdrawal of Matt Gaetz, some members of the Republican Party, such as Senator Lindsey Graham, are determined to work with Donald Trump to find a new candidate. Lindsey Graham welcomed the departure of Matt Gaetz, believing that it opened the way for a more consensual appointment. “We stand ready to work with President-elect Donald Trump on future choices to quickly fill this important position,” he said.
On the Democratic side, the reaction was more critical. “It is time for Donald Trump to propose a serious candidate for the post of Minister of Justice,” reacted in a press release the Democratic chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, Dick Durbin. For its part, Donald Trump's transition team sought to minimize the impact of this setback. This withdrawal does not seem to slow down the strategy of the elected president, who maintains a resolutely offensive course in his appointments.
