New York, NY —Nov. 14, 2024 – Hours after being nominated by President-elect Trump to serve as Attorney General for the United States, Rep. Matt Gaetz resigned as a Florida Congressman to bring an end to an ethics probe related to illegal drug use, misusing funds, special favors and sexual misconduct.

The House Ethics Committee must not veer from its plan to release on Friday a report detailing sexual misconduct and illicit drug use involving Mr. Gaetz.

“These findings are highly probative for a candidate seeking to become the country’s most powerful and far reaching law enforcement official. The public has a right to know and the Senate that will vote to confirm or reject his nomination has a right to know,” said Sonia Ossorio, Executive Director of the National Organization for Women of New York City. 

Mr. Gaetz was the subject of a three-year federal investigation that began under Attorney General Bill Barr during Trump’s first term focused on allegations that Gaetz and one time political alIy Joel Greenberg paid underage girls and escorts or offered them gifts in exchange for sex. In 2021 Greenberg admitted as part of a plea deal with prosecutors that he paid women and an underage girl to have sex with him and other men. The men were not identified in court documents when he pleaded guilty. Greenberg was sentenced in late 2022 to 11 years in prison. 

“Matt Gaetz meets the standard of disqualified and unqualified to lead the Department of Justice. He has never run any agency beyond his tiny staff in a Congressional office and has no experience in criminal prosecutions and investigations, except as a target of one,” Ossorio said. “We join Americans and elected officials across the country in recognizing the grave implications of this nomination and urge the Senate to seek independence and reject this nomination outright.” 

 “The Justice Department must be led by an individual of impeccable ethics and unwavering integrity—qualities that Mr. Gaetz simply does not possess,”  Ossorio said. 

President-elect Trump’s choice of Mr. Gaetz reflects a disturbing willingness to prioritize political loyalty over competence, integrity, impartiality and public safety and justice. NOW-NYC will continue to champion leaders who respect and uphold individual rights. We urge our supporters and the public to speak out against this nomination and demand accountability from our nation’s leadership.

contact: [email protected]