Former Congressman Matt Gaetz said Friday that he will not participate in the new Congress when it convenes early next year, despite easily winning re-election earlier this month.
“I have no intention of serving in the 119th Congress,” Gaetz, 42, told Real America's Voice in his first interview since announcing Thursday that he was withdrawing from President-elect Donald Trump's attorney general nomination. He told “The Charlie Kirk Show.''
“There are so many great Floridians who rose up to run for my seat, people who have been an inspiration to me with their heroism and public service,” Gates added, adding that he will continue to “run for another position.” “I'll be involved in public works projects,” he teased. ”
“I'm not leaving,” he told Kirk, later adding, “I'm here to save this country.”
Gates resigned from Congress on November 13, hours after President Trump, 78, nominated him as his nominee for head of the Department of Justice.
The Florida native announced Thursday that he would resign from consideration for a Cabinet post after it became clear he would not have the support of skeptical Republican senators to be confirmed.
Sunshine State Gov. Ron DeSantis must announce the date for a special election to replace Rep. Michael Walz (R-Fla.), whom Gates and President Trump nominated to be national security adviser.
DeSantis also needs to appoint someone to fill the seat in the Senate held by Marco Rubio, who is expected to resign early next year to become President Trump's secretary of state.
