Former Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) said Friday he will not return to Congress after resigning his House seat last week, despite withdrawing Thursday from consideration to be President-elect Trump’s attorney general — but added that he is “not going anywhere.”
“I’m still going to be in the fight, but it’s going to be from a new perch. I do not intend to join the 119th Congress,” Gaetz told conservative commentator Charlie Kirk, later adding that is a “pretty poetic time” to let Florida’s 1st District have new representation.
There was a question about whether Gaetz may try to return to Congress for the 119th Congress, and whether he would want to, given the careful wording in his resignation letter last week.
But he put an end to that speculation.
“I’ve got other goals in life that I’m eager to pursue, my wife and my family. And so I’m going to be fighting for President Trump. I’m going to be doing whatever he asks of me, as I always have,” Gaetz said. “But I think that eight years is probably enough time in the United States Congress.”
Gaetz’s decision to not return to Congress could also play a role in squashing the House Ethics Committee’s report on its yearslong investigation into him. The panel investigated Gaetz over allegations of sexual misconduct, illicit drug use, and other matters. He has vigorously denied any wrongdoing.
The Ethics panel on Wednesday declined to release its report on Gaetz after Republicans on the panel opted against doing so, but left open the possibility of opting to release it at a later date.
However, Rep. Michael Guest (R-Miss.), the chair of the committee, said Thursday that Gaetz’s decision to withdraw from consideration for attorney general “should end the discussion” regarding whether the panel should release its report on the Florida Republican.
Two House Democrats have also made moves to try to force House votes requiring the Ethics panel to release its report on Gaetz, and have vowed to continue with pushing for a vote when Congress returns from Thanksgiving.
It is not clear what the Florida lawmaker does next, but Gaetz has plenty of options aside from returning to the House. Those include Trump appointing him to a position that does not require Senate confirmation, exploring a run for governor of Florida, or even launching a media career.
“Don’t worry, I’m not going anywhere. I’m not taking off for like, you know, tropical excursion for the rest of my life. I am here to help save this country,” he said Friday.
“We need a leadership structure under President Trump that’s going to allow for durability of our movement and the ability to continue this great realignment of our politics. So I’ll play a part in that. I plan to be a big voice,” Gaetz added.