Matt Gaetz is withdrawing from consideration for Donald Trump’s Attorney General

Former Republican Rep. Matt Gaetz announced Thursday that he is withdrawing his name from consideration to be President-elect Donald Trump’s attorney general.

“I had very good meetings with the Senators yesterday,” Gaetz wrote in a post on X. “I appreciate their thoughtful response — and the overwhelming support of so many. While the momentum was strong, it is clear that my confirmation was an unfair distraction. In the critical work of the Trump/Vance Transition. There is no time to waste in the long-running conflict in Washington, so I will be withdrawing. “My name on acting as Attorney General. Trump’s DOJ must be in place and ready on Day 1.”

“I am still fully committed to seeing Donald J. Trump as the most successful President in history,” Gaetz added. “I will forever be honored that President Trump appointed me to lead the Department of Justice and I am confident that he will save America.”

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Gaetz informed Trump on Thursday morning that he would withdraw, sources familiar with the matter told ABC News.

Trump, who has been personally calling on lawmakers to support Gaetz, issued a statement saying he appreciated Gaetz’s recent efforts to seek Senate confirmation and that the withdrawal was his decision.

“He was doing very well but, at the same time, he didn’t want to be a distraction to the Administration, which he has great respect for,” Trump wrote. “Matt has an amazing future, and I look forward to seeing all the great things he will do!”

Trump announced last Wednesday that he was tapping Gaetz to serve as the nation’s top law enforcement officer. Gaetz, a fiery figure in Congress, resigned soon after.

The choice shocked many Republicans on Capitol Hill and raised eyebrows within the Justice Department.

Gaetz has been under scrutiny for allegations of sexual misconduct, including allegations of sleeping with a minor, which he has long denied.

MORE: Gaetz allegedly flew two women to New York, paid them for sex: Attorney

The House Ethics Committee was in the final stages of an investigation into Gaetz when he was appointed attorney general, ABC News reported. A heated debate has erupted on Capitol Hill since then over whether the panel released its report.

Many senators say they believe that the information contained in the report will be revealed during his confirmation hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee. Sen. John Cornyn, who met with Gaetz on Wednesday, said his hearing had the potential to be “Kavanaugh on steroids.”

Sources told ABC News a few days ago that it became clear to Trump’s team that Gaetz would not have enough votes to confirm the Senate with sources close to the president-elect telling ABC News that “there is no way to 50 senators”.

Caroline Leavitt, a spokeswoman for the Trump-Vance transition, said Thursday that Trump “remains committed to appointing a leader of the Justice Department who will vigorously defend the Constitution and end the abuse of our justice system.”

“President Trump will announce his new decision when it is made,” Leavitt said.

Trump has announced who he intends to appoint his top defense attorneys to high-level roles at the Justice Department. Todd Blanche has been named deputy attorney general and Emil Bove as principal associate deputy attorney general.

ABC News’ Kelsey Walsh and Lalee Ibssa contributed to this report.

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