After resigning from the House and withdrawing his nomination for attorney general, questions have arisen about Matt Gaetz’s political future. Although he resigned from the current Congress, he was re-elected and could potentially return in the next session starting in January. His resignation is effective immediately and cannot be withdrawn, so he will not return to the current 118th Congress.
Regarding the 119th Congress starting in January, Gaetz stated in his resignation letter that he does not intend to take the oath. However, the possibility of him reversing that decision remains uncertain. House vacancies are usually filled by a special election, which has not been organized yet. The Ethics Committee investigation into Gaetz could still continue if he returns to Congress, as the committee can vote to extend investigations into members.
If Gaetz does not return to Congress, Ethics Committee Chair Michael Guest believes that the committee’s involvement in the matter should end. However, Rep. Sean Casten is pushing for a House floor vote to compel the committee to release its report. Speaker Mike Johnson has indicated that this issue will be addressed after Thanksgiving.
In summary, Gaetz’s political fate remains uncertain as he could potentially return to Congress in the next session, but the Ethics Committee investigation and unresolved questions about his intentions have added complexity to the situation.
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