Matt Gaetz Reveals His Future Plans After Stepping Away From AG Nomination
Former Rep. Matt Gaetz recently shared a Cameo video that hinted at potential plans for his political future, raising questions about his next move after stepping away from consideration as U.S. Attorney General in President-elect Donald Trump’s administration.
During a Newsmax segment, host Bianca de la Garza and conservative activist Matt Schlapp, chairman of the American Conservative Union, speculated about Gaetz’s options. “Matt Gaetz withdrew his name, Pam Bondi was selected. But Gaetz is having a little bit of fun on Cameo posting some videos here,” de la Garza said before playing a clip.
In the video, Gaetz addressed FBI Director Christopher Wray: “What’s up Chris, this is Matt Gaetz. I know you’re bummed out I’m not going to be taking out the garbage at the Department of Justice, but don’t despair. We’ve got an awesome attorney general coming in, Pam Bondi, and you know what? They can stop one of us, but they can’t stop all of us.”
De la Garza commented, “There’s some, you know, things about him maybe teasing a run for governor in Florida, being a special prosecutor a la Jack Smith… Marco Rubio’s seat. So there’s a whole bunch of things. We know he’s not returning to Congress. What do you think Matt Gaetz’s future holds, Matt?”
Schlapp praised Gaetz’s political acumen. “He’s one of the most talented politicians I’ve ever seen. He figured out a long time ago that Congress doesn’t really pass legislation anymore, and he realized it was about pushing what you care about,” he said.
Schlapp also emphasized Gaetz’s role in the conservative movement. “He’s going to have a big future in the Republican Party and the MAGA movement. Don’t worry to his enemies, he’s not going anywhere,” he added. Schlapp hinted that Gaetz might retaliate against liberal Republicans who opposed his confirmation as attorney general, saying, “I think he’s going to make them pay a little bit for that. So stay tuned.”
Meanwhile, House Republicans recently blocked the release of a report from the House Committee on Ethics regarding allegations of sexual misconduct and drug use against Gaetz, which had previously complicated his confirmation bid. Two party-line votes—206-198 and 204-198—sent the matter back to the Ethics panel, with Rep. Tom McClintock of California being the only Republican to side with Democrats.
Reps. Sean Casten (D-Ill.) and Steve Cohen (D-Tenn.) introduced competing measures to release the report, arguing that serious allegations against former members like Gaetz should not be buried. “Resigning from Congress should not allow Members to avoid accountability,” Casten argued.
House Speaker Mike Johnson opposed releasing the report, asserting that the Ethics Committee’s jurisdiction is limited to current members. “We are not in the business of investigating and publishing a report of people who are not a part of this institution,” Johnson said.