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Matt Gaetz, the controversial Trump pick for attorney general has withdrawn his name from consideration for the role. In a statement on X, he said: “While the momentum was strong, it is clear that my confirmation was unfairly becoming a distraction to the critical work of the Trump/Vance Transition.”
The former Florida congressman was the subject of investigations into drug use and sex with a minor, allegations which he has always denied.
Meanwhile, police have released a detailed investigative report into Pete Hegseth, the Fox News personality and military veteran Donald Trump has nominated to be America’s next defense secretary, after he was accused of sexual assault by a woman he met at a conservative conference in Monterey, California, in 2017, the latest resurfaced scandal to dog the incoming administration.
Hegseth told officers at the time that the encounter in question had been consensual and denied any wrongdoing. On Thursday, he told reporters on Capitol Hill “the matter was fully investigated, and I was completely cleared.”
The president-elect has meanwhile unveiled a new range of branded guitars and made further additions to his proposed cabinet, naming Matthew Whitaker and Peter Hoekstra his ambassadors to NATO and Canada, following the nominations of Linda McMahon, Dr Mehmet Oz and Howard Lutnick earlier this week.
Report: Gaetz had second sexual encounter at party with girl, 17, that included another woman
A woman who claims she had sex with Matt Gaetz when she was a minor reportedly told the House Ethics Committee that she also had two sexual encounters with him at one party in 2017, and that one had involved another woman.
Oliver O’Connell21 November 2024 20:50
White House: Trump yet to sign papers officially starting transition
Oliver O’Connell21 November 2024 20:46
Musk and Ramaswamy want to force federal workers back to the office. But can they?
Among the many changes expected to shake up the government under the new Donald Trump administration, requiring all federal employees to return to the office five days per week could very well occur. But it’s likely to face challenges from unions.
Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy, the billionaire entrepreneurs recently bestowed government advisory jobs, said they have several ideas to drastically cut the federal workforce and budget through their newly formed Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).
One way they could inspire change is by suggesting Trump mandate the approximately 2.28 million employees return to the office five days per week – something they claim will “result in a wave of voluntary terminations”.
Oliver O’Connell21 November 2024 20:30
The Big Question: Can Matt Gaetz return to Congress?
Gaetz said in a Thursday statement on X his nomination had become a “needlessly protacted Washington scuffle.”
“I remain fully committed to see that Donald J. Trump is the most successful President in history,” he wrote. “I will forever be honored that President Trump nominated me to lead the Department of Justice and I’m certain he will Save America.”
The decision may eliminate one big question mark hanging over Gaetz — would he get confirmed in the Senate — but it triggers a whole host of other uncertainties. Namely, can he, and will he, return to Congress?
Josh Marcus investigates.
Oliver O’Connell21 November 2024 20:20
Four GOP senators ‘implacably opposed’ to Gaetz nomination, report says
Jonathan Swan of The New York Times reports that Matt Gaetz believed that at least four Republican senators were “implacably opposed” to his nomination as attorney general: Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, Susan Collins of Maine, Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, and John Curtis of Utah — currently senator-elect.
‘I feel like Bin Laden’: Homeless Florida man charged with plotting to blow up New York Stock Exchange
A Florida man has been charged with plotting to blow up the New York Stock Exchange to “reboot” the U.S. government.
The FBI arrested Harun Abdul-Malik Yener on Wednesday, the bureau said in an affidavit in Florida federal court.
Josh Marcus has the details.
Oliver O’Connell21 November 2024 20:00
Watch: Pete Hegseth responds to sexual assault allegations
Oliver O’Connell21 November 2024 19:50
Ginger Gaetz posts cryptic tribute as Matt withdraws from AG consideration
Ginger Gaetz called it “the end of an era” after her husband Matt withdrew his name to be Donald Trump’s next attorney general.
It is yet not clear whether the enigmatic ‘end of an era’ remark refers to Gaetz’s bid to become AG, or his wider political career as his withdrawal immediately sparked questions of what he will do next.
Oliver O’Connell21 November 2024 19:45
Trump’s NATO pick used to work for company offering a ‘masculine toilet’ for well-endowed men
The lawyer is a former college football player and George W Bush-era US attorney for the southern district of Iowa who went on to serve as acting attorney general in Trump’s first administration in late 2018 and early 2019 following the ousting of Jeff Sessions.
But, between those two brushes with high office, Whitaker took a far more unconventional position, as Joe Sommerlad reports.
Oliver O’Connell21 November 2024 19:30
