The withdrawal of former Rep. Matt Gaetz as President-elect Trump’s nominee for attorney general amid mounting fallout from sex-trafficking allegations could spell trouble for Trump’s other controversial picks for top administration posts.
Gaetz withdrew his name from consideration Thursday as Peter Hegseth, Trump’s pick to serve as defense secretary, was wrapping up meetings with senators on Capitol Hill.
Hegseth, who was joined by Vice President-elect J.D. Vance, also faces sexual misconduct allegations from the 2017 encounter. The investigation intensified late Wednesday night after police in Monterey, California, released a report about the allegations.
Gaetz withdrew his nomination as attorney general
President-elect Trump’s nominee for attorney general, former Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., right, and Vice President-elect J.D. Vance, left, from a meeting with members of the Republican Senate Judiciary Committee at the Capitol in Washington on Wednesday. Walking out. , 20 November 2024. (AP Photo/Ben Curtis)
“The matter was thoroughly investigated, and I was fully cleared,” Hegseth told reporters on Capitol Hill on Thursday. Through his lawyer, he has also admitted to the sexual encounter but said it was consensual.
Carolyn Levitt, a spokeswoman for Trump’s transition team, called Hegseth “a highly respected combat veteran who will serve our country honorably if confirmed as the next secretary of defense.”
Who will Trump pick next for attorney general?
But with Gaetz now out of the firing line, Hegseth, an Army National Guard officer who served in the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq and who until earlier this month was a top Fox News host, is likely to will have to face more attention. From the media and senators.
Peter Hegseth, President-elect Donald Trump’s secretary of defense, speaks to reporters after meeting with senators on Capitol Hill, Thursday, Nov. 21, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/Rod Lemke, Jr.)
Senator Kevin Cramer, Republican of North Dakota, was asked about the allegations against Hegseth, taking questions from reporters after Gaetz announced he was dropping out of consideration.
“It’s a huge problem that we … have a problem with sexual assault in our military,” Kramer said.
The senator added that he was “not going to be biased” but that “it’s a beautiful accusation.”
Trump’s transition team fired off an email Thursday afternoon titled “Pat Hegseth Gains Strong Support on Capitol Hill,” which featured positive quotes from 11 GOP senators, including a piece from Cramer. .
And a source close to Trump’s transition team told Fox News that “the transition team doesn’t understand that the problems that Gaetz is facing are a widespread problem.”
Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. arrives before President-elect Trump speaks during the America First Policy Institute Gala at his Mar-a-Lago estate on November 14, 2024 in Palm Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
But scrutiny will also likely increase for Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. and former Hawaii Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, Trump’s picks for Health and Human Services secretary and director of national intelligence, as both of them have past Controversial comments face potential backlash.
“If I were them, I would be more worried,” a different source in Trump’s political orbit told Fox News when asked about Hegseth, Kennedy and Gabbard.
Senator Thom Tillis, Republican of North Carolina, said there are “a few things” Kennedy should “move on” before meeting with senators on Capitol Hill.
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But a Republican strategist who has advised Republican senators pointed to Gaetz as the sacrificial lamb.
“There’s always one” who goes down who “gives cover to others,” the source, who asked to remain anonymous to speak more freely, said.
The strategist said that Hegseth, Gabbard and Kennedy “have their work cut out for them all, but that.” [GOP] The conference is now going to be very happy going forward. … Getz was the only non-starter.”
Fox News’ Kelly Freese and Meghan Tome contributed to this report.
