Matt Gaetz is stepping down as Donald Trump’s pick for attorney general

The Florida Republican’s announcement came a day after meeting with senators in an attempt to win their support for his confirmation to lead the Justice Department.

“While momentum has been strong, it is clear that my confirmation has unfairly become a distraction to the critical work of the Trump/Vance transition,” Gaetz said in a statement announcing his decision.

“We have no time to waste on unnecessarily protracted bickering in Washington, so I will withdraw my name from consideration to serve as attorney general. Trump’s DOJ must be in place and ready on day one.”

In a post on social media, Trump said: “I’m very appreciative of Matt Gaetz’s recent efforts to seek approval for attorney general. He did very well, but at the same time he didn’t want to be a distraction to an administration that he has a lot of respect for, Matt has a wonderful future and I look forward to seeing all the great things they will do!”

Gaetz’s withdrawal is a blow to Trump’s efforts to install staunch loyalists in his incoming administration and the first sign that Trump may face resistance from members of his own party to the electorate with a startling background.

Gaetz’s announcement came days after an attorney for the two women said his clients told Ethics Committee investigators that Gaetz paid them for sex on multiple occasions beginning in 2017, when Gaetz was a Florida congressman. He resigned from the House of Representatives after Trump announced that he would nominate him as a cabinet member.

One of the women testified that she saw Gaetz having sex with a 17-year-old girl at a party in Florida in 2017, according to attorney Joel Leppard.

Leppard said his client testified she didn’t think Gaetz knew the girl was a minor, ended their relationship when he found out and didn’t resume until after she turned 18. The age of consent in Florida is 18.

Gaetz has vehemently denied any wrongdoing and said last year that a Justice Department investigation into allegations of sex trafficking involving underage girls ended without federal charges against him.