Former Rep. Matt Gaetz said Friday he will not rejoin Congress next year, reports show.
The Florida Republican told far right pundit Charlie Kirk that he would not seek to reclaim the seat he abandoned to pursue a failed bid to become President-elect Donald Trump's attorney general, CNN reported.
“I’m still going to be in the fight, but it’s going to be from a new perch," Gaetz told Kirk. "I do not intend to join the 119th Congress."
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Gaetz resigned from the House earlier this month when Trump named him to lead the Justice department — a nomination that failed in the face of a looming House Ethics committee probe into accusation he had sex with a minor at an illicit drug-fueled party.
Gaetz, who withdrew his name from the Cabinet contest on Thursday, reportedly resigned two days before a committee vote on whether it would release the report.
“There are a number of fantastic Floridians who’ve stepped up to run for my seat," Gaetz reportedly said. "And I’m actually excited to see Northwest Florida go to new heights and have great representation."
Gaetz, who took office in 2016, said Friday eight years was all he needed.
“I’m going to be fighting for President Trump," he said. "I’m going to be doing whatever he asks of me, as I always have. But I think that eight years is probably enough time in the United States Congress.”