Matt Gaetz withdraws, prompting questions about allegations against Trump’s other cabinet picks | US News
Matt Gaetz has chosen to withdraw his name from consideration to be the next US attorney general, citing the distraction his selection has caused.
Mr Gaetz was initially selected by Donald Trump for his cabinet but faced a serious allegation of sexual impropriety.
The president-elect’s picks for defence secretary Pete Hegseth and health and human services secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr have also faced accusations in the past.
Mr Gaetz has stated that his selection was “unfairly becoming a distraction” to the transition of Mr Trump’s administration into the White House.
But what were the accusations against him and the others, and how did they respond?
Matt Gaetz
Gaetz at a Trump rally in October. Pic: Reuters
Mr Gaetz was previously under a Justice Department investigation for sex trafficking allegations involving a 17-year-old girl, but no criminal charges were filed.
He has consistently denied these accusations.
There was also a House Ethics Committee investigation into Mr Gaetz, who was a congressman at the time of his nomination for attorney general by Mr Trump. He resigned shortly after his nomination, halting the investigation before its report on the trafficking claims was released.
US House Speaker Mike Johnson has urged to keep the report confidential, stating: “I’m going to strongly request that the Ethics Committee not issue the report, because that is not the way we do things in the House.
“The rules of the House have always been that a former member is beyond the jurisdiction of the Ethics Committee.”
However, some details from the investigation have been made public.
On Monday, a lawyer representing two women who testified before the Ethics Committee stated that Mr Gaetz paid them for sex multiple times, including at a private party in Florida.
The lawyer also mentioned that one woman witnessed Mr Gaetz having sex with her 17-year-old friend, but she believed he was unaware of her age, and he ended their relationship until she became of legal age.
Mr Gaetz denies all allegations against him.
He recently announced his withdrawal from consideration as attorney general, citing distractions to the Trump/Vance transition.
Pete Hegseth
Hegseth at Trump Tower for a meeting with Trump in 2016. Pic: AP
Mr Hegseth has been accused of sexually assaulting a woman in 2017, according to a detailed investigative report released on 20 November.
The report included police interviews with the alleged victim, a nurse who treated her, a hotel staff member, another woman present, and Mr Hegseth himself.
The woman, who helped organize an event where Mr Hegseth spoke, reported feeling unclear about the events following drinks with him at a hotel bar.
She recounted an incident where Mr Hegseth blocked her from leaving a hotel room, despite her protests, and she recalled repeatedly saying “no.”
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She remembered waking up with Mr Hegseth near her and experiencing nightmares and memory loss afterward.
Mr Hegseth claimed the encounter was consensual and that he ensured her comfort throughout.
His attorney mentioned a confidential settlement made to avoid potential career impact from a lawsuit filed by the woman a few years after the incident.
Robert F Kennedy Jr
Kennedy endorsing Trump at a campaign in August. Pic: AP
Mr Kennedy faced accusations this summer of groping a former family babysitter.
In a Vanity Fair article, Eliza Cooney, a nanny for Mr Kennedy in 1998, alleged he groped her while she was working.
Mr Kennedy dismissed the article as “garbage” and acknowledged his past, stating “I have so many skeletons in my closet that if they could all vote, I could run for king of the world.”
He did not directly deny the allegation but refrained from commenting further.
NBC News reported that Mr Kennedy later sent apologetic texts to Ms Cooney, stating he had no memory of the incident.
What has Trump’s team said?
The president-elect has not addressed the accusations against his picks directly.
Following the report on Mr Hegseth, a spokesperson for the Trump transition team affirmed that the incident was thoroughly investigated and no charges were filed, as the allegations were deemed false.
In an earlier statement, the spokesperson highlighted the public’s call for change in Washington through Mr Trump’s election.
“That’s why he has chosen brilliant and highly-respected outsiders to serve in his administration.”
“He will continue to support them as they combat those who aim to obstruct the MAGA agenda,” they added.
Addressing potential hurdles in confirming controversial picks, another transition official emphasized the president’s determination to have his nominees in place, despite anticipated challenges.
While the Senate, even with a Republican majority, must question and vote on all cabinet appointments, controversies surrounding some nominees could potentially lead to blockages.
