The Venmo payment leak that seemed to end Gaetz's bid for attorney generalpublished at 22:22 Greenwich Mean Time

22:22 GMT

Mike Wendling
US digital reporter

The investigation into allegations that, among other things, Matt Gaetz paid for sex, is fairly old news – dating back to 2020.

And ever since those allegations were brought forward, he has denied all wrongdoing.

But his nomination to the post of America’s top law enforcement official put new attention on the issue.

And in recent days, US news outlets have been reporting on leaks from the investigation – one that did not lead to any criminal charges.

Some of the most significant material concerns payments that Gaetz made using Venmo – a popular online payment app.

The leaks show payments from Gaetz to several people, including two women - allegedly the money was sent to these women in exchange for sex with the former congressman.

Venmo users can attach short messages to payments – usually to indicate what the payment is for – and some of the transfers that Gaetz made apparently included messages such as “love you”, “being awesome” and “being my friend”, according to records obtained by ABC News.

Gaetz and Trump have not given a specific reason for the withdrawal of his nomination, but reporting on the payments has been one of the biggest stories in the US media over the last day or so.

And the level of detail could indicate that investigators have collected a much larger amount of information about Gaetz’s activities.

Image source, Getty Images

Senate Judiciary Chair Dick Durbin - who yesterday, led an open letter to the FBI requesting the "complete evidentiary file" of the investigation into Matt Gaetz - now says the Trump pick did not meet the "standard" of what it takes to be an attorney general.

In a statement following Gaetz's withdrawal, he writes: "A qualified nominee for the highest position in law enforcement in America must be honest and complete in disclosing his background. Mr Gaetz did not meet that standard."

Durbin says that "it's time" for Trump to choose a "serious nominee" for the role.

"The Senate must uphold its constitutional responsibility of advice and consent on this critical position," he adds.

As Matt Gaetz leaves the group of Trump nominations for top roles in his cabinet, here's a look at who remains:

Before he announced he would not seek the attorney general position, Gaetz reportedly called Donald Trump and vice-president elect JD Vance to inform them of his decision, BBC's US partner CBS News reports.

Gaetz called the two separately, according to CBS.

Image source, Getty Images

Vice-President-elect, JD Vance, says he is "extremely grateful" for the work Gaetz put into the nomination process for the attorney general role.

In a post on X, he says Gaetz made the decision to withdraw "entirely out of respect" for Trump's administration.

"Matt is a patriot and I look forward to seeing what he does next," he adds.

At today's White House briefing, press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre was asked for comments about Matt Gaetz's decision to withdraw.

She said the White House didn't want to weigh in on specifics, as they "truly want to respect the presidential transition of power".

But, Jean-Pierre added: "The president has said when it comes to investigation, that the department should be independent. There should be no partisanship. There should be no loyalty to one party or the other. The loyalty should be to the Constitution, and the loyalty should be to the rule of law."

Brandon Drenon
Reporting from Capitol Hill

We're still getting reactions from senators at the Capitol on Gaetz's withdrawal for attorney general consideration.

Incoming Senate Majority Leader John Thune said about the decision: "It's his call.

"He's going to do what's best for him and his family... I respect the decision."

Thune - widely seen as an establishment Republican - was voted into Senate leadership last week over Trump-backed Rick Scott, a Maga-brand Republican, like Gaetz.

In the US, the Senate has big sway on who gets to occupy the country's top jobs, including cabinet secretaries, federal judges and ambassadors.

This is because it holds "advice and consent" power under the US constitution, which gives the body the authority to share political responsibilities with the president as a way to avoid potential abuse of government powers.

When it comes to cabinet appointments, this power gives the Senate authority to vote to confirm or deny nominations made by the president.

How senators might vote on a particular cabinet pick has influenced presidents in the past, including Bill Clinton, George W Bush, Barack Obama and even Donald Trump, who all withdrew nominations of officials when it became obvious that they would likely fail before the Senate.

The process is designed to vet these candidates, and unearth any national security, financial or political concerns over a specific nominee. The confirmation process often includes a formal FBI probe into each pick, as well as an investigation into their finances done by the Office of Government Ethics.

Cai Pigliucci
Reporting from Capitol Hill

There's a very cold November wind hitting reporters and cameraman who are staking out under the lampposts, waiting for senators as they head home for the weekend.

Senator Elizabeth Warren just walked out and reporters asked if she’d stop to talk, but she said she had to go. Someone said "please, Senator… talk to us!"

An understandable plea to make the standing in the cold air worth it.

Senator Chris Coons - a top Democrat - just stopped to speak. When asked about the vetting process for these nominees, he said “making these decisions so quickly may have led to an early constellation that looks more like a reality TV show casting call than serious and credible proposals for cabinet."

Coons also gave us a sense of the mood today on the Hill after this news, saying “I think there was a widespread sense of this was a positive development for the confirmation process."

Image source, BBC / Cai Pigliucci

Despite the House Ethics Committee's investigation being held behind closed doors, multiple leaks and other reporting mean we know a few of the allegations against Matt Gaetz.

In recent days reporters obtained leaks about around $10,000 in payments Gaetz sent using the Venmo mobile app – allegedly the money was sent to women in exchange for sex.

Gaetz has denied all wrongdoing.

Joel Leppard, an attorney for two of the witnesses who testified to the House ethics committee that they were paid for sex with Gaetz, said in a statement: "My clients are relieved to have this chapter behind them and eager to move forward with their lives. We're hopeful this brings final closure for all parties involved.”

But there may still be more leaks to come, with further details.

Earlier this week it was also reported that unknown hackers accessed House of Representatives investigation files, including testimony from a woman who alleged she had sex with Gaetz when she was 17, and another woman who claimed she witnessed the incident.

Brandon Drenon
Reporting from Capitol Hill

Squeezing past a flock of reporters nearly blocking her from entering the elevator here at the Capitol, Republican Senator Lisa Murkowski paused briefly to tell us she was "happy" about Gaetz’s withdrawal."I think it was the right decision," she said.

We've just heard from the lawyer representing two women who told the House Ethics Committee that Matt Gaetz paid them for sex.

“My clients are relieved to have this chapter behind them and eager to move forward with their lives," attorney Joel Leppard said in a statement.

"We’re hopeful this brings final closure for all parties involved.”

The ethics report, which has not been released, details the findings of a probe sparked by allegations of sexual misconduct and illicit drug use.

Gaetz has denied the allegations.

Cai Pigliucci
Reporting from Capitol Hill

Republican Senator John Kennedy says he was “surprised” to hear of Matt Gaetz withdrawing his nomination for the attorney general role.

“I don’t know anything about how, why. I’m assuming it was a personal decision,” he added.

Kennedy met with Gaetz and Vance just yesterday on the Hill, and had described it then to the BBC as a good conversation.

Kennedy also said the allegations against Gaetz did not come up in his meeting yesterday.

When asked who Trump should pick to replace Gaetz, he said he has “some thoughts” but will let the president-elect decide.

Many Republicans who have walked by said they believe it’s a personal decision for Gaetz.

Republican Senator Lindsey Graham has just spoken to reporters, telling them that Senate confirmation for Gaetz's nomination would have been "challenging".

Cai Pigliucci
Reporting from Capitol Hill

There's a crowded hall of reporters outside Senate chambers - close to where Republican senators are having their luncheon.

Every once in a while a senator will come out and face an onslaught of questions. Senators will soon leave town for the weekend and the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday, so it's a race to get reaction to the news that Matt Gaetz has withdrawn his nomination.

There are a lot of questions remaining for senators - Gaetz isn't the only controversial White House pick from President-elect Trump. But the wave of controversy around the former Florida congressman appears to have been unsustainable after meetings with Republicans on the Hill yesterday.

Republican Senator Rand Paul also just walked by, and said he hopes Trump picks someone "equally as disruptive" as Gaetz.

Cai Pigliucci
Reporting from Capitol Hill

Florida Senator Rick Scott - a Trump ally who just ran for Republican majority leader - briefly spoke with reporters outside the Senate chambers.

Asked about who should replace Matt Gaetz as the attorney general candidate, he said he thinks Donald Trump needs somebody who will do the job. He was also asked if Gaetz made the right choice - he said: "It's a good choice for Matt Gaetz."

Mike Wendling
US digital reporter

Image source, Reuters

Any process that would install Matt Gaetz as attorney general was never going to be smooth – and now after just eight days, it’s all over.

Gaetz is seen by his colleagues, even on the Republican side, as a firebrand – someone prepared to use any means necessary to advance the Maga agenda.

To Donald Trump, that seemed like a good thing. But to others, even fellow Republicans, the former Florida congressman takes things too far.

“I don't think it's a serious nomination for the attorney general,” said Alaska Senator Lisa Murkowski – a key moderate Republican – when the nomination was announced.

The nomination also reignited interest in a long-running scandal – allegations of sex trafficking and drug-taking, which he denies.

Gaetz last week resigned from his seat in the House of Representatives, which normally would mark the end of a Congressional investigation into the matter.

But given the circumstances, and Gaetz's already-controversial image, the issue was never going to go away.

After a yesterday's deadlock in the House Ethics Committee, the details of the investigation will remain confidential for now - unless Gaetz decides he wants his seat back.

Gaetz withdrawal is a huge blow for Trump transitionpublished at 18:16 Greenwich Mean Time

18:16 GMT

Gary O'Donoghue
Senior North America correspondent

Matt Gaetz withdrawing his nomination for attorney general is a big blow for the Trump transition - this was considered one of their most important picks.

Donald Trump is obsessed with the Department of Justice. He believes that it conducted witch hunts against him for eight years, including the four years he was in power the first time - even though his own nominees were in charge of the department during his first term.

So this nomination was enormously important, very high profile.

Gaetz's withdrawal is a huge blow, but it is also an illustration of the ways power is separated in this country between the presidency, the courts and Congress. The reality is that if you as president don't have enough support among your own people in Congress, you can't get your way - even if your party controls all those levers.

In the Senate, they pride themselves on a certain degree of independence. I think some might question that degree of independence nowadays, given Trump's capture of the Republican Party.

But there does seem to have been a handful of people there who were uncertain about the Gaetz pick - and that's all it takes to throw the whole thing into doubt.

Image source, Get

For those joining us, we've just learned that Trump's nominee for attorney general, former Republican lawmaker Matt Gaetz, has withdrawn from consideration. Here's a reminder of the controversy surrounding his nomination.

On and off since 2021, the secretive House Ethics Committee has investigated Gaetz over various allegations, including claims that he had sex with an underage teenage girl, used illicit drugs, accepted bribes, misused campaign funds and shared inappropriate images on the House floor.

Gaetz has denied the allegations against him.

A woman who attended a 2017 party with Gaetz testified to the ethics committee that she saw the then-congressman having sex with a minor, her lawyer has alleged.

The same lawyer alleged on Monday that his client and another woman were paid by Gaetz to have sex with him.

Gaetz has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing. He also points to the fact that the Department of Justice ended a separate three-year federal sex-trafficking investigation last year by deciding not to bring charges against him.

"Lies were Weaponized to try to destroy me," Gaetz posted on X on Friday.

Joel Greenberg, Gaetz's one-time friend, was the lone person charged in the DoJ's sex trafficking investigation. He cooperated with investigators and reportedly told prosecutors information about multiple others, including Gaetz.

Matt Gaetz's decision to withdraw from consideration for attorney general on Thursday comes after an action-packed day on Capitol Hill on Wednesday.

The House Ethics committee met yesterday to vote on whether to release its report about allegations that Gaetz paid for sex - including with a minor. Gaetz has denied the allegations, and a previous justice department investigation ended without charges being brought against the former Florida congressman.

The two-hour meeting ended with lawmakers in a deadlock over the decision. It was a 5-5 vote, along party lines. Republicans on the committee voted to not release the report, while Democrats voted to release it. Releasing the report would have required a majority vote.

They have said little about what happened during that meeting, and we would not have even known about the vote taken inside without statements from ranking Democratic Party member Susan Wild and Republican Chair Michael Guest.

The committee had planned to meet again next month to decide their next steps. It's unclear what will happen with the report now.