Matt Gaetz, under House ethics investigation, Trump’s nominee for attorney general

President-elect Donald Trump On Wednesday, he announced his selection of Rep. Matt Gaetz as attorney general; It’s a move that, if approved by the Senate, would put a hotshot and one of Trump’s staunchest allies at the head of the Justice Department.

“Matt is an extremely talented and driven attorney who trained at William. Trump said in his social media post: “Mary College of Law stands out in Congress by focusing on urgently needed reform at the Department of Justice.

Gaetz is an explosive choice in terms of Trump’s pick as the federal government’s chief of law enforcement and his years of leading the executive branch of government. We are investigating allegations regarding Florida Congressman. Gaetz was informed that the Justice Department would not seek changes as recently as last year. He has long denied any wrongdoing.

House Speaker Mike Johnson announced late Wednesday that Gaetz had offered to resign from Congress, effective immediately.

Johnson said he was “surprised” by the resignation, but that the Florida congressman did so to “start the clock” on the process of Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis calling a special election to fill the vacancy.

“So Matt would have done us a great service by making that decision on the spot. And we’re grateful for that, so we’re moving forward,” Johnson added.

Gaetz’s resignation will narrow the narrow majority Republicans will have in the new Congress in January, but Gaetz represents a reliably Republican district in the Florida Panhandle.

Gaetz has been a member of Congress since winning in 2017, riding the MAGA wave that brought Trump to Washington eight years ago. Over the years, Gaetz has become one of Trump’s most ardent and, according to some allies, effective defenders in Washington, while also growing closer to Trump.

Gaetz has been at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago residence nearly every day since Election Day, helping advise and provide input on other administration picks, sources told ABC News. Gaetz was also seen traveling with Trump in his motorcade during his visit to Washington on Wednesday.

It is noteworthy that Gaetz is very close to Trump’s newly elected chief of staff, Susie Wiles; he himself has deep and deep roots in Florida politics.

Beginning in 2019, Gaetz faced a year-long Justice Department investigation into allegations of sex trafficking and obstruction of justice. Gaetz had long denied any wrongdoing, and the Justice Department notified Gaetz in 2023 that it had declined to file criminal charges against him following an investigation.

The investigation into Gaetz stemmed from an investigation into former Seminole County Tax Collector Joel Greenberg, a onetime friend of the Florida congressman. Joel Greenberg was sentenced to 11 years in federal prison in 2022 after pleading guilty to multiple charges, including sex trafficking of minors and sex trafficking of minors. from minors to other “adult males”.

The Florida congressman faces a lawsuit after the Justice Department declined to charge Gaetz following the investigation. Ongoing investigation by the House Ethics Committee regarding the same allegations.

In September, Gaetz released a lengthy statement regarding the ongoing House Ethics investigation into his alleged conduct. Gaetz stated that he would no longer voluntarily participate in the investigation and apparently included a series of answers to questions the committee asked the Florida congressman earlier that month.

The House Ethics Committee has dropped its investigation into a member who left Congress, House Ethics Committee Chairman Michael Guest told ABC News.

“You know, if a member is no longer a member of Congress, then ethics has no authority. So if Matt Gaetz is appointed Attorney General, the ethics investigation is currently ongoing and will end at that point,” Guest said. .

House Republicans were meeting behind closed doors when Trump announced he would nominate Gaetz for attorney general. Several members inside told ABC News that audible breathing was heard in the room.

Many House Republicans on Capitol Hill are reacting to Trump’s selection of Gaetz.

House Majority Leader Steve Scalise and Representative Guest expressed their support for Trump’s selection of Gaetz as attorney general. Republican Rep. Max Miller, a former aide to Donald Trump who has been particularly critical of Gaetz following the Florida congressman’s efforts to oust former Speaker Kevin McCarthy last year, said the pick was “stupid” and Gaetz “will never be confirmed by the Senate.” “

“I believe the President probably rewarded him for being such a loyal soldier to the president, but the President is smart enough and his staff is smart enough to know that Mr. Gaetz will never be confirmed by the Senate, no matter what.” Miller said.

ABC News’ Rachel Scott, Lauren Peller and Isabella Murray contributed to this report.