Clerk Announces Matt Gaetz’s Absence from 119th Congress
Despite winning reelection last November, former Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) made the surprising decision to resign from Congress to pursue a brief and ultimately unsuccessful bid for attorney general.
However, it seems his absence hasn’t left much of a void among his former Republican colleagues.In a recent video from the swearing-in of the 119th Congress, which will serve from 2025 to 2027, the reaction to Gaetz’s departure was anything but somber.
On Friday afternoon, House Clerk Kevin McCumber announced that the Florida Republican had officially informed Congress of his decision not to return to the House of Representatives. The response? A loud and enthusiastic round of cheers and applause echoed through the chamber as the news was delivered.
“The clerk is in receipt of a letter from the honorable Matt Gaetz from the state of Florida, indicating that he will not serve in the House in the 119th Congress,” McCumber said, as members applauded. “Without objection, the letters relating to his resignation will be printed in the record.”
Matt Gaetz reportedly stepped down to expedite the special election process, allowing Governor Ron DeSantis to swiftly fill the vacant seat for Florida’s 1st Congressional District, which covers the panhandle.
However, his resignation coincided with the looming release of a House Ethics Committee report alleging serious misconduct, including paying for sex with a minor and illegal drug use.
The Ethics Committee, which only has authority over sitting members, was initially expected to let the report quietly fade following Gaetz’s resignation. Yet, intense public pressure ultimately forced the report’s release.
Among the disturbing claims, Gaetz was accused of paying for sex with a teenage girl who had just finished her junior year of high school. Despite the gravity of the allegations, the Department of Justice decided not to pursue criminal charges against him.
President-elect Donald Trump initially selected Matt Gaetz to head the Department of Justice, but Gaetz pulled out of the running after only eight days when it became evident he wouldn’t secure enough votes for confirmation, even in the Republican-majority Senate. Now, Gaetz is preparing to host his own show on the far-right network One America News.
Acting clerk: The clerk is in receipt of a letter from the honorable Matt Gaetz indicating that he will not serve in the House in the 119th Congress *applause*