More on Matt Gaetz's resignation from Congress

[thewayne]

Gaetz resigned is seat on November 13, "effective immediately", after being re-elected to it when it was announced that he was going to be the nominee for Attorney General. And today he withdrew his name from that nomination.

The question on my mind, and many others, is: can he return to his seat?

And the answer as it stands right now is: we don't really know, but probably not.

First, we don't know if he'll ask to be seated come the swearing in of the new 119th Congress in January. And there's also the report hanging over his head of the sexual allegations of him having sex with a minor. It's believed that was the real reason he resigned, to prevent the release of the report, which the committee voted to table since he was no longer a member of Congress. If he asks to be reinstated, the report could become a real liability for him. Very shortly after he withdrew his name from consideration, CNN announced that another woman has come forward stating that she had sex with him when she was 17 years old.

Second, there's a problem with that concerning the specific wording of his resignation, which in part reads: "I do not intend to take the oath of office for the same office in the 119th Congress." That is pretty clear and explicit. The governor of Florida, Ron DeSanctimonious, has already instructed the Secretary of State to organize a special election to fill Gaetz's seat.

Currently, there is no rule in Congress for taking back a resignation - and again, we don't know if he's going to ask for his seat back. The State of Florida could sue to block a move - if Gaetz asks to be sworn in to the 119th - as they've already started incurring expenses to replace him.

Could get interesting. But it's possible nothing will come of it. And there's always the likelihood that he'll get something cushy in the forthcoming administration that won't require congressional approval.

One very funny comment that I read said "He didn't even last a Scaramucci!"

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/matt-gaetz-seat-congress_n_673f99cde4b0fc93e3d1319a


Now Rolling Stone reports that allies of the old weird convict from Florida were afraid that Gaetz was too big a blackmail target to be able to serve in that roll with as many skeletons in his closet as he has. In the words of the bard, DUH!

https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-features/trump-gaetz-attorney-general-blackmail-1235176338/

Comments

[silveradept]

Comparatively, he's on par with plenty of the other nominees for being a scoundrel and unqualified for the position he's been nominated for. But, as with the last time around, we're finding that there are such things as going too far, even for the party that nominated a scoundrel to be chief executive.

[thewayne]

It is truly a sad state of affairs.

[kaishin108]

One very funny comment that I read said "He didn't even last a Scaramucci!"

That IS funny!

[ndrosen]

Agreed!

[thewayne]

I smiled when I read it.  Anthony has become firmly cemented in the bedrock of political humor.

[kraig]

But what would the blackmail be? Releasing damaging information like he likes 'em young? We already *know* that. I suppose there could be worse, but that's probably true of nearly every GOPer and not a few Democrats too.

[thewayne]

That is the question, isn't it?

[disneydream06]

Oh you know darn well, he's going to try and take back his seat. UGH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Hugs, Jon