Florida Representative Matt Gaetz has announced his resignation from Congress, effective immediately, following President-elect Trump’s nomination for him to serve as attorney general, Speaker Mike Johnson confirmed Wednesday.
Johnson explained that Gaetz’s swift resignation will facilitate filling his seat more quickly, helping to minimize the impact of losing one vote within the GOP’s narrow majority in the House for the coming year.
Speaker Mike Johnson confirms Gaetz’s resignation to fill his seat more swiftly
Another outcome of Gaetz’s resignation is the automatic halt to the House Ethics Committee’s investigation into him, as the committee’s authority does not extend to former members. This likely termination of the inquiry shields Gaetz from any findings becoming public—a development that may benefit him as he faces a potentially contentious Senate confirmation process.
House Ethics Committee Chair Michael Guest noted that the committee loses jurisdiction when a representative leaves office, meaning the probe into Gaetz will end if he takes on the attorney general role. Ethics Committee members had been set to convene Friday to decide on releasing their report on Gaetz, according to a source familiar with the matter.
The source disclosed that the committee originally planned to vote on publishing the report at the end of July, in time for the period between Gaetz’s primary and general elections in November. However, an early recess in July prevented the vote from taking place.
Although the investigation is effectively over due to Gaetz’s resignation, the Ethics Committee could still release its report, though such occurrences are rare. For example, the committee published findings on former Representative William Boner after his 1987 resignation.
The Ethics Committee’s inquiry involved allegations of sexual misconduct and drug use against Gaetz, with the investigation beginning in 2021 after media reports suggested the Department of Justice was examining possible improper relations with a minor.
Gaetz has maintained his innocence, and the DOJ chose not to press charges. In September, Gaetz also announced he would no longer cooperate with the Ethics probe, which he criticized as invasive. Johnson remarked that the committee’s ability to release any findings is uncertain now that Gaetz has stepped down from Congress.
Earlier on Wednesday, Rep. Max Miller, a known critic of Gaetz, had expressed interest in seeing the investigation’s details emerge during Senate hearings, suggesting the findings could be pivotal in shaping Gaetz’s confirmation.
Gaetz’s resignation carries risks, as Senate confirmation remains uncertain. Many legislators have expressed skepticism regarding his nomination. Johnson conveyed that Gaetz’s early departure was intended to expedite the process of finding a replacement, ideally in time for the new Congress’s swearing-in on January 3
. The GOP majority in the House will be slim next year, a situation compounded by Trump’s continuing nominations of House members to various roles. Johnson added that Gaetz’s decision was unexpected, leading him to contact Florida Governor Ron DeSantis to arrange a timeline for a special election to fill the seat.
DeSantis, who has the authority to set the election date, was reportedly abroad at the time of the call but is expected to discuss the matter with Johnson upon his return. With hopes to complete the process by January 3, Johnson thanked Gaetz for his prompt resignation, viewing it as beneficial in the effort to preserve the GOP majority.
