What’s happening?
It’s hard to say what’s next for former Congressman Matt Gaetz after the House Ethics Committee put out a report on Monday. The findings suggest that the Florida Republican may have been involved in some serious ethical issues and even possible criminal activities, including statutory rape.
According to the report, there’s substantial evidence indicating that Gaetz broke several House rules and standards related to things like prostitution, drug use, receiving improper gifts, granting special favors, and obstructing Congress.
The Importance of the Issue
So, Gaetz stepped down from Congress right after President-elect Donald Trump picked him to be the U.S. attorney general last month.
Although his resignation put a pause on the report’s release, the accusations raised some serious questions about whether he could get confirmed by the Senate for Trump’s Cabinet.
In the end, he decided to pull out of the running just a week after being nominated.
Essential Information to Understand
While the former congressman may be facing possible criminal and civil liabilities related to the allegations, Gaetz continues to maintain popularity among MAGA Republicans and, at 42 years old, still has the potential for a lengthy political career ahead of him.
During a Turning Point USA event in Arizona on Sunday, Gaetz mentioned he might consider running in the 2026 Florida gubernatorial election, possibly serve as a special counsel to target his former House colleagues, or pursue the soon-to-be-vacant U.S. Senate seat in Florida previously held by Marco Rubio, Trump’s nominee for U.S. Secretary of State.
“My friend Steve Bannon and others have suggested that I should return to the House of Representatives on January 3rd,” Gaetz remarked. “But I would remind Steve, when he got out of prison, he didn’t punch a guard on the way out. For now, I’ll enjoy being one of you.”
Now that Gaetz isn’t a member of the U.S. House anymore, he can’t face any consequences for any ethical missteps he may have made while he was there.
Public Opinions
During a CNN segment on Monday, lawyer and legal analyst Joey Jackson remarked, He’s got a ‘get out of jail free’ card… as long as there’s someone in the White House who’s his buddy, he won’t face any federal charges, not even a hint of prosecution.
Meanwhile, Republican strategist Shermichael Singleton speculated on CNN, I wouldn’t be surprised if he decides to run for governor. I’m not entirely convinced that DeSantis would pick him for the Senate; it seems like the governor has his sights set on a few other candidates.
What’s Coming Up Next?
Mark your calendars! Starting January 6, 2025, at 9 p.m. Eastern Time, Matt Gaetz will kick off his new gig as the host of The Matt Gaetz Show. You can catch it on One America News Network, where he’ll be diving into all things political for a full hour!