Matt Gaetz

Matt Gaetz
Portrait of Matt Gaetz.
Official portrait, 2020
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Florida's 1st district
In office
January 3, 2017 – November 13, 2024
Preceded byJeff Miller
Succeeded byTBD
Member of the Florida House of Representatives
from the 4th district
In office
April 13, 2010 – November 8, 2016
Preceded byRay Sansom
Succeeded byMel Ponder
Personal details
Born (1982-05-07) May 7, 1982 (age 42)
Hollywood, Florida, U.S.
Political partyRepublican
Spouse
Ginger Luckey
​
(m. 2021)​
ParentDon Gaetz (father)
RelativesPalmer Luckey (brother-in-law)
Education
Signature
Websitegaetz.house.gov
Matt Gaetz's voice
Gaetz on the retirement of his House colleague, Ileana Ros-Lehtinen
Recorded July 11, 2018

Matthew Louis Gaetz II (/ɡeɪts/ GAYTS; born May 7, 1982) is an American politician and lawyer who served as the U.S. representative for Florida's 1st congressional district from 2017 until his resignation in 2024. His district included all of Escambia, Okaloosa, and Santa Rosa counties, and portions of Walton County. Gaetz is a member of the Republican Party and a self-described libertarian populist[1] and is widely regarded as a proponent of far-right politics as well as an ally of Donald Trump.[2]

The son of prominent Florida politician Don Gaetz and grandson of North Dakota politician Jerry Gaetz, Gaetz was raised in Fort Walton Beach, Florida. After graduating from William & Mary Law School, he briefly worked in private practice before running for state representative. He served in the Florida House of Representatives from 2010 until 2016, and received national attention for defending Florida's "stand-your-ground law".[3] In 2016, he was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives, and was re-elected in 2018, 2020, 2022, and 2024.

Gaetz's tenure as congressman was controversial. In 2020, he was accused of child sex trafficking and statutory rape over claims that he paid a 17-year-old girl to travel across state lines so that he could engage in sexual acts with her. Following an investigation, the United States Department of Justice (DOJ) decided not to pursue charges, finding the evidence against him insufficient.[4][5] A Florida Bar Association criminal complaint regarding this issue was filed in 2024 but subsequently dismissed.[6] Prior to his resignation as representative, Gaetz was also under ethics investigation by the House Ethics Committee for allegations of underage sexual abuse, illegal drug use, sharing inappropriate images and videos on the House floor, misusing state identification records, converting campaign funds for personal use, and accepting impermissible gifts. Gaetz denied all of the allegations.[7][8][9] In October 2023, Gaetz filed a motion to vacate the position of Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, resulting in the removal of Kevin McCarthy from his role as Speaker. Gaetz's actions in leading the motion were part of broader tensions within the Republican Party, with many members critical of McCarthy's leadership and handling of various legislative matters.[10][11]

President-elect Donald Trump announced he would nominate Gaetz to serve as United States attorney general on November 13, 2024. Gaetz resigned from the House of Representatives shortly after the announcement. His nomination led to surprise, alarm, and negative reception from some Senate Republicans.[9] A week later, he withdrew himself from the nomination.[12] Gaetz is eligible to re-enter the House upon the start of the 119th United States Congress, having already won reelection before his resignation, but he has said that he does not intend to do so.[13]

  1. ^ Tracy, Abigail (March 3, 2020). "'The President's Big Into Buddy Checks': In the MAGA Circus with Matt Gaetz, Trump's Ultimate Protégé". Vanity Fair. Archived from the original on January 19, 2021. Retrieved January 11, 2021.
  2. ^ Zurcher, Anthony (April 5, 2021). "Matt Gaetz: Why this Trump ally is fighting for his political life". BBC News. Archived from the original on May 6, 2021. Retrieved July 31, 2022.
  3. ^ Peters, Justin (November 7, 2013). "Meet the Uncompromising Ideologue Chairing Florida's "Stand Your Ground" Hearings". Slate. Archived from the original on March 31, 2021. Retrieved July 7, 2021.
  4. ^ Draper, Robert (November 13, 2024). "Matt Gaetz, a Bomb-Thrower for the Justice Department". The New York Times. Retrieved November 13, 2024.
  5. ^ Lusvardi, Amber (April 13, 2021). "Behind the Gaetz scandal, there's a bigger issue: Most states have loopholes that let men exploit teenage girls". The Washington Post. Retrieved November 13, 2024.
  6. ^ Bakich, Grayson (October 16, 2024). "Florida Bar Dismisses Criminal Complaint Against Gaetz". The Floridian. Retrieved November 17, 2024.
  7. ^ "Gaetz resigned days before ethics investigation report expected". The Washington Post. November 13, 2024. Retrieved November 14, 2024.
  8. ^ Draper, Robert (November 13, 2024). "House Ethics Panel Was Set to Vote to Release Report Critical of Matt Gaetz". The New York Times. Retrieved November 14, 2024.
  9. ^ a b Demirjian, Karoun (November 13, 2024). "Senate Republicans Alarmed by Gaetz Pick as Attorney General Nominee". The New York Times. Retrieved November 14, 2024.
  10. ^ Edmondson, Catie; Broadwater, Luke (October 3, 2023). "House to Decide McCarthy's Future as Speaker". The New York Times. Archived from the original on October 3, 2023. Retrieved October 3, 2023.
  11. ^ Edmondson, Catie (October 2, 2023). "Gaetz Moves to Oust McCarthy, Threatening His Grip on the Speakership". The New York Times. Archived from the original on October 2, 2023. Retrieved October 2, 2023.
  12. ^ Coen, Susie (November 21, 2024). "Matt Gaetz withdraws nomination as Trump's attorney general". The Telegraph. Archived from the original on November 21, 2024. Retrieved November 21, 2024.
  13. ^ Tucker, Eric; Durkin Richer, Alanna (November 21, 2024). "Gaetz withdraws as Trump's pick for attorney general, averting confirmation battle in the Senate". Associated Press. Retrieved November 21, 2024.