Representative Matt Gaetz will immediately leave his position in the United States House of Representatives.
It comes just hours after Donald Trump announced Gaetz as his choice to be Attorney General.
The decision to resign from Congress came as a surprise after it became clear that Gaetz might have trouble passing Senate confirmation to lead the Justice Department.
but a Punchbowl News report reveals that the House Ethics Committee was set to vote on whether to release a report on his conduct on Friday. But if Gaetz is no longer a member of Congress, the panel loses its jurisdiction over him.
Attorney General Merrick Garland’s Justice Department also conducted an investigation into the Florida Republican over sex trafficking allegations, but he was never charged.
Rep. Matt Gaetz made a shocking announcement that he will immediately resign from Congress.
House Speaker Mike Johnson revealed that he received Gaetz’s resignation letter on Wednesday, effective immediately.
Now, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis will be able to name another person to fill Gaetz’s first House seat in Florida’s 1st Congressional District.
Johnson admitted the resignation “caught us a little by surprise,” but says he believes Gaetz resigned to avoid vacancies in the closely divided House and give DeSantis eight weeks to find his successor.
DeSantis received a call from Johnson today to begin the process of finding a replacement.