New Delhi: Matt Gaetz Thursday withdrew himself from consideration as the next Attorney General of the US following opposition from Senate Republicans due to allegations against him of engaging in sex trafficking and drug use.

“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,” said Gaetz in a post on the social media platform X.

“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. Trump’s DOJ must be in place and ready on Day 1.”

The former Florida Congressman’s withdrawal from consideration is the first setback for President-elect Donald J. Trump. The incoming president of the US has moved swiftly by announcing Pam Bondi, the former Attorney General of Florida, as Gaetz’s replacement.

“I greatly appreciate the recent efforts of Matt Gaetz in seeking approval to be Attorney General. He was doing very well but, at the same time, did not want to be a distraction for the Administration, for which he has much respect. Matt has a wonderful future, and I look forward to watching all of the great things he will do!” said Trump in a post on the social media platform Truth Social.

Gaetz’s withdrawal from consideration comes after the House Committee on Ethics investigated allegations against the Congressman and was to release a report into his activities last week. He resigned two days before the release of the report, essentially bringing an end to the investigation as he was no longer a member of the House of Representatives.

According to The New York Times, federal investigators have traced payments made by Gaetz and his associates, who took part in alleged drug-fuelled sex parties. Two women who have testified that Gaetz hired them for sex are reported to have received around $10,000, according to the report.

Trump’s first choice for Attorney General and his friends are reported to have sent thousands of dollars through applications like Venmo to dozens of people who allegedly participated in these parties between 2017 and 2020.

One of the women, who is said to have received payments from Gaetz’s friend, was reportedly 17, a minor, when they first attended one of these parties.

Gaetz was first elected to the House of Representatives in 2016 and was sworn in in 2017. Before becoming a US Congressman, he was a state representative in the Florida House of Representatives between 2010 and 2017. 

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Who is Pam Bondi  

Trump, within hours of Gaetz’s withdrawal, announced that Pamela “Pam” Bondi will be his pick as the next Attorney General of the US.

“I am proud to announce former Attorney General of the Great State of Florida, Pam Bondi, as our next Attorney General of the United States. Pam was a prosecutor for nearly 20 years, where she was very tough on Violent Criminals, and made the streets safe for Florida Families,” said Trump in a post on Truth Social.

“For too long, the partisan Department of Justice has been weaponized against me and other Republicans – Not anymore. Pam will refocus the DOJ to its intended purpose of fighting Crime, and Making America Safe Again,” he added.

Bondi, 59, is a lobbyist and served as the Attorney General of Florida from 2011 till 2019. In the past, she has refused to investigate allegations against Trump University in 2013, despite receiving a number of complaints from individuals.

Trump, at the time a businessman, had donated $25,000 to Bondi’s political action committee, while she was deciding to pursue an investigation against the short-lived for-profit university. He was later fined $2,500 for the donation.

Bondi is registered as a lobbyist for Qatar according to media reports and defended Trump during his first impeachment trial in 2020. She also supported Trump’s allegations that he lost the 2020 elections due to a number of illegal votes, without providing any evidence to substantiate the claim.

(Edited by Zinnia Ray Chaudhuri)

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