By Katherine Tinsley
9:39am PST, Jan 27, 2025
Matt Gaetz withdrew from Donald Trump's attorney general nomination, as the former congressman was most likely not going to secure enough Senate votes to receive a confirmation.
The politician's career hasn't been free of scandal, as Gaetz was investigated by the House Ethics Committee after he was accused of being intimate with a minor.
Now, Gaetz is telling his side of the story.
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The politician's career hasn't been free of scandal, as Gaetz was investigated by the House Ethics Committee after he was accused of being intimate with a minor.
Now, Gaetz is telling his side of the story.
MORE: Follow Wonderwall on MSN for more fun celebrity & entertainment photo galleries and content
In an episode of Bill Maher's podcast, "Club Random," the political commentator asked Gaetz about the allegations against him.
"So, people want to know two basic things. One, was he ever with an underage girl?" Maher asked.
"No," the attorney replied.
"So, people want to know two basic things. One, was he ever with an underage girl?" Maher asked.
"No," the attorney replied.
While being investigated by his peers, documents alleged Gaetz had a "transactional" dynamic with two younger women.
"It sounded scandalous," Gaetz told Maher. "Me dating a 25-year-old woman and a 27-year-old woman and having a non-transactional relationship."
"I have a lot of enemies on the Republican side," Gaetz said while referring to Kevin McCarthy as a "golden goose" he "killed" after losing his Speaker of the House role.
"It sounded scandalous," Gaetz told Maher. "Me dating a 25-year-old woman and a 27-year-old woman and having a non-transactional relationship."
"I have a lot of enemies on the Republican side," Gaetz said while referring to Kevin McCarthy as a "golden goose" he "killed" after losing his Speaker of the House role.
Gaetz went on to bash McCarthy.
"Kevin McCarthy raised a billion dollars in special interest money and distributed that among a couple hundred Republicans," the Republican stated. "That makes you a lot of f——- friends."
In December 2024, the committee found "substantial evidence" that Gaetz violated federal laws "and other standards of conduct prohibiting prostitution, statutory rape, illicit drug use, acceptance of impermissible gifts, the provision of special favors and privileges, and obstruction of Congress."
As a result, Gaetz stepped away from his nomination.
"There is no time to waste on a needlessly protracted Washington scuffle, thus I'll be withdrawing my name from consideration to serve as Attorney General. Trump's DOJ must be in place and ready on Day 1," Gaetz wrote in a statement released prior to the inauguration.