On Wednesday, House Speaker Mike Johnson announced that Florida Republican Rep. Matt Gaetz had resigned from Congress “effective immediately.” Gaetz’s resignation comes after President-elect Donald Trump selected him to serve as the Attorney General in his upcoming administration.
The sudden resignation caught many by surprise, especially given it occurred just days before a scheduled vote on whether to release a House Ethics Committee report concerning allegations of sexual misconduct, drug use, and other misconduct involving Gaetz.
Speaker Johnson confirmed that Gaetz’s resignation would end the ongoing Ethics Committee investigation, which had been initiated in April 2021, and expressed plans to fill the vacant Florida 1st District seat by January 3.
Gaetz’s appointment by Trump and resignation marks a major shift in the political landscape, as the embattled congressman exits under a cloud of controversy.
