Former U.S. Representative Matt Gaetz, President Donald Trump’s nominee for attorney general, said on Thursday he is withdrawing his name to take the job — just one day after Gaetz spoke to Republican senators on Capitol Hill about the nomination.
Trump has named Pam Bondi, the former attorney general of Florida, as his new pick for the job.
Another controversial Cabinet pick, Pete Hegseth, is on the Hill on Thursday with Vice President-elect JD Vance to make his case for the Defense Department secretary job.
Meanwhile, Trump continues to announce his picks for top jobs within his administration.
Latest Developments
Nov 21, 6:56 PM
Trump nominates Pam Bondi as new AG nominee
Trump has named Pam Bondi as his new attorney general choice, after Matt Gaetz pulled out of negotiations on Thursday.
Bondi is the former attorney general of Florida, serving from 2011 to 2019 and marking the first woman to hold the position.
“For too long, the Department of Justice has been a weapon designed for me and other Republicans – not anymore. Pam will realign the DOJ to its mission of fighting Crime, and Making America Safe Again,” Trump said in a statement.
The position requires Senate confirmation.
Bondi has been in Mr. Trump’s circle for years and has continued to advise him on legal matters. He was also one of the lawyers who defended Mr. Trump during his first trial in the Senate.
PHOTO: Former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi speaks at a rally held by Republican presidential candidate and former US President Donald Trump at the Greensboro Complex in Greensboro, North Carolina, November 2, 2024. (Sam Wolfe/Reuters)
-ABC News’ Lalee Ibssa and Katherine Faulders
Nov 21, 6:15 PM
Ethics Committee Chairman Says Gaetz’s Removal “Should End Discussion”
The chairman of the House Ethics Committee, Michael Guest of Mississippi, told reporters that Matt Gaetz’s departure as attorney general “resolves any involvement the Ethics Committee should have in all matters involving Mr. Gaetz.”
He added that this removal “should end the discussion on whether or not the Ethics Committee should continue.”
-ABC News’ Lauren Peller
Nov 21, 6:07 PM
McConnell’s new Senate duties could put him at odds with Trump
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, who previously said that he will not be the leader of the Senate party in the new Congress, announced on Thursday that he will be the chairman of the Senate Rules Committee and the Defense Appropriations subcommittee when the Republicans take control of the Senate in January.
Both positions are important, given McConnell’s relationship with Trump.
The nomination to the Rules Committee, which oversees the Senate’s operations, is particularly interesting at a time when Mr. Trump has said he is interested in pushing the boundaries of the Senate’s procedures.
PHOTO: Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, Republican of Kentucky, speaks at a news conference at the U.S. Capitol, Nov. 6, 2024, in Washington. (Allison Robbert/AFP via Getty Images)
In his statement, McConnell said, “Protecting the Senate as an institution and protecting the right to political expression in our elections will remain among my long-term priorities.”
Mr. McConnell can help prevent Senate chaos or, perhaps, stop the appointment, which Mr. Trump said he may use to avoid Senate approval of some of his Cabinet picks, although the party leadership still has the final say on these matters.
The appointment to chair the defense subcommittee is also important to McConnell, who has said he sees advocating for US defense and the defense of US allies as an important part of his post-presidency role. He could use this position to support some of Ukraine’s finances.
“America’s national security interests face the most serious threat since World War II. At this critical time, the new Senate Republican majority is responsible for safeguarding the future of US leadership and supremacy. I look forward to serving in this urgent role as Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense, and I look forward to working with and incoming Chair Susan Collins to achieve our shared goal,” McConnell said in his statement.
-ABC News’ Allison Pecorin
Nov 21, 5:12 PM
Spokesman Johnson says Gaetz has ‘bright future ahead of him’
Court spokesman Mike Johnson said Matt Gaetz “has a bright future ahead of him” after the former congressman withdrew his name from the attorney general’s review.
“I’ve worked with Matt for eight years. He’s an America First veteran — committed to disarming the Justice Department which, after the abuses of the Biden-Harris Administration, needs serious reform,” Johnson said. X.
Nov 21, 4:28 PM
Vance says Gaetz resigned “out of respect” for the Trump administration
Vice President-elect JD Vance responded to Matt Gaetz’s removal from the attorney general nomination, saying at X he is “very grateful for the work Matt put into the nomination.”
PHOTO: Former Rep. Matt Gaetz, President Donald Trump’s pick for Attorney General walks with Vice President-elect JD Vance as they arrive for meetings with senators at the U.S. Capitol, November 20, 2024, in Washington. (Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)
“He made his decision to withdraw completely out of respect for President Trump’s administration. Matt is a patriot and I look forward to seeing what he does next,” Vance, who joined Gaetz as he met with Republican senators on Capitol Hill Wednesday, added.
Nov 21, 4:21 PM
Senate critics applaud Gaetz’s decision to withdraw from the AG’s deliberations
Some Republican senators who are believed to be opposed to the nomination of Matt Gaetz as attorney general because of the obstacles to his confirmation have publicly praised his decision to resign.
“I think it’s a very good move on behalf of the incoming President,” Minority Leader Mitch McConnell said — though it’s unclear whether Trump ordered Gaetz to leave.
“I think it was a good decision. I think it was important,” said Sen. Lisa Murkowski, has been among those publicly expressing concern over Gaetz’s nomination.
Asked if he was relieved, Murkowski said, “I am. I think it was a good decision.”
PHOTO: Rep. Matt Gaetz speaks during the House Judiciary hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington, March 12, 2024. (Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images, FILES)
Sen. Mike Rounds, who had also voiced some concerns about Gaetz, said the decision to withdraw was “a good decision to make.”
“Maybe there was information out there that the president didn’t know when he made the initial recommendation. Part of the process is, information comes out, and at that point, when people re-evaluate or review, you know. The president or a candidate may decide that it’s not the right time to pursue the nomination,” Rounds said. . “It may have been due to advice from the Senate rather than approval by the Senate.”
Not all senators were open about their views.
“Obviously that’s the decision he came up with, and I think everyone had to make the best decision for themselves and their family. And for whatever reason he decided not to follow it,” Sen. John Thune, the incoming Republican president.
When pressed on whether it was the right decision, he said, “We respect his decision.”
Many Republican senators said they were surprised.
“I learned about it the same way as everyone else, by reading the announcement,” Sen. Ted Cruz, who sits on the Senate Judiciary Committee and met with Gaetz on Wednesday, said.
-ABC News’ Allison Pecorin
Nov 21, 3:21 PM
Casten indicated that he is not ruling out a move to compel the release of the Gaetz report
Illinois Democratic Rep. Sean Casten suggested that he plans to continue pressing the House to vote on forcing the Ethics Committee to release its report on Matt Gaetz.
“While I welcome the news that Matt Gaetz has withdrawn from consideration for Attorney General, it remains important that Gaetz’s statement be made available to the American people,” he said in a statement Thursday.
Casten brought up the resolution Wednesday night to force the House to vote to release the report. Speaker Mike Johnson said on Thursday the House will vote on the resolution after Thanksgiving.
-ABC News’ Lauren Peller
Nov 21, 3:48 PM
Pete Buttigieg says he had a “good talk” with Sean Duffy
Outgoing Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said he reached out to Trump’s pick for his successor, businessman and Fox News contributor Sean Duffy, and they had a good conversation.
“I reached out to Mr. Duffy yesterday to congratulate him on what I think is the best job in the federal government. Let him know that, if confirmed, he will be working with — in my biased opinion — the best men and women in the public service, and that there is a great tradition of ex-secretaries from there’s another party rooted in the success of the department after they’re gone, and I hope to be a part of that culture,” Buttigieg said. during a meeting of progressive local and state officials in Washington, DC
PHOTO: Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg addresses questions during a news conference at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport November 21, 2024, in Arlington, Virginia. (Alex Wong/Getty Images)
He told MSNBC that he’s not sure what his next step is, but he’s looking forward to spending more time with his kids and whatever he chooses there will be some “distance” between him and DC.
“I know I will do it and help, later, I don’t know how,” he said.
-ABC News’ Brittany Shepherd
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