Gaetz resigns from Congress, allowing ample time for replacement

President-elect Donald Trump shocked the nation this week after he named Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) his nominee for U.S. attorney general.

According to the New York Post, Gaetz wasted no time at all after the announcement in submitting his resignation to Congress, which was "effective immediately."

Notably, Trump made the announcement just days before a vote for the "House Ethics Committee report related to allegations of sexual misconduct and drug use involving the now former congressman."

His resignation means the vote will be shut down. The Post explained:

Gaetz’s resignation will end the House Ethics Committee investigation that was initiated in April 2021, over allegations that the congressman engaged in sexual misconduct and illicit drug use, accepted improper gifts, dispensed special privileges and favors to individuals with whom he had a personal relationship, and sought to obstruct government investigations of his conduct.

House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) said Gaetz's sudden resignation caught him and other GOP reps "by surprise."

"I think out of deference to us, he issued his resignation letter effective immediately. That caught us by surprise a little bit," Johnson told reporters this week.

Matt Gaetz as AG has REAL potential. We needed a pit bull to hunt down and prosecute the deepstate. He's a pit bull.

Here he is eviscerating the current AG Merrick Garland six months ago.
Solid pick. pic.twitter.com/5ltLfJHD2e

— Clint Russell (@LibertyLockPod) November 13, 2024

Johnson also told reporters that he hopes to have Gaetz's Florida seat filled by Jan. 3, especially now that Republicans hold a slight majority in the lower chamber.

The report Gaetz faces was described as "highly damaging," though it's unclear what that would have meant for the congressman.

Some believe Gaetz resigned not only because of his appointment, but also due to the possibility that he could have faced formal consequences as a result of the Ethics vote on his situation.

Johnson said that Gaetz's abrupt resignation was to help Republicans get a replacement in the lower chamber before the next session of Congress begins in January.

"Under Florida state law, there’s about an eight-week period to select and fill the vacancy. And so by [resigning] today, that allows me -- I’ve already placed a call to [Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis] and said, ‘Let’s start the clock,’” Johnson told the media.

"If we start the clock now, if you do the math, we may be able to fill that seat as early as Jan. 3, when we take the new oath of office for the new Congress," Johnson explained, noting that Gaetz did the House a favor by thinking of the timeline.

Now the question is whether or not Gaetz will be confirmed as AG in the Senate. Some believe he will not. Only time will tell.