Former Rep. Matt Gaetz withdraws as Trump's attorney general pick

Former U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz, who President-elect Donald Trump had nominated to be attorney general, walks alongside Vice President-elect JD Vance as they arrive for meetings with senators at the U.S. Capitol on Nov. 20, 2024 in Washington, DC.

Elena Moore, photographed for NPR, 11 March 2020, in Washington DC.

Lexie Schapitl is an associate producer with NPR's Washington Desk, where she does a little bit of everything. She can be found reporting from Capitol Hill, producing the NPR Politics podcast or running the NPR Politics social media channels. She has also produced coverage of the January 6th Committee hearings, Trump's first impeachment and the 2020 and 2022 campaigns.

Deirdre Walsh is a congressional correspondent for NPR's Washington Desk.

Elena Moore is an assistant producer for the NPR Politics Podcast. She also reports on youth politics for the Washington Desk.

November 21, 2024

Former Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., is withdrawing his candidacy to be President-elect Trump’s attorney general, after sex trafficking and drug use allegations imperiled his nomination.

After meeting with Republican senators to discuss his nomination, Gaetz wrote on social media Thursday that “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,” he continued.

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…
— Matt Gaetz (@mattgaetz) November 21, 2024