Former Rep. Matt Gaetz dropped his bid to become President-elect Donald Trump’s next attorney general on Thursday, closing out a campaign that was dogged by sexual misconduct allegations and the specter of an unreleased ethics report.
With the Florida Republican’s withdrawal, the Senate will avoid what was shaping up to be a fiery confirmation process, with Democrats escalating their push for more information on Gaetz while some Republicans asserted the former lawmaker should be given a hearing.
Gaetz had met Wednesday with several Republican members of the Senate Judiciary Committee. Gaetz, who has been accused of having sex with a 17-year-old girl, has steadfastly denied wrongdoing.
