Rep. Matt Gaetz's political career in photos

Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) leaves a House Republicans Conference meeting after U.S. President-elect Donald Trump spoke at the Hyatt Regency on Capitol Hill on November 13, 2024 in Washington, DC. As is tradition with incoming presidents, Trump is traveling to Washington, DC to meet with U.S. President Joe Biden at the White House as well as meet with Republican congressmen on Capitol Hill.

US Representative Matt Gaetz speaks during a campaign rally for former US President and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump at Calhoun Ranch in Coachella, California, on October 12, 2024.

Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla. hugs Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga. during the second day of the Republican National Convention at the Fiserv Forum. The second day of the RNC focused on crime and border policies.

Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., is seen on the convention floor during the second day of the Republican National Convention at the Fiserv Forum. The second day of the RNC focused on crime and border policies.

Rep. Matt Gaetz (FL) is interviewed on the floor during the second day of the Republican National Convention at the Fiserv Forum. The second day of the RNC focused on crime and border policies.

Congressman Matt Gaetz, left, listens as Senior Pastor Gordon Godfrey explains that he believes that “God swatted that bullet away” from Donald Trump the other day during a political rally at Marcus Pointe Baptist Church in Pensacola, Florida on Monday, July 15, 2024.

Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., arrives for a House Republicans Conference meeting at the Capitol Hill Club on June 13, 2024 in Washington, DC. Former President Donald Trump addressed Republican congressional members Thursday morning.

Representative Matt Gaetz (C R), Republican of Florida, listens as former US President Donald Trump speaks to the press before his trial for allegedly covering up hush money payments linked to extramarital affairs, at Manhattan Criminal Court in New York City, on May 16, 2024. Trump's defense team Thursday continues the questioning of Michael Cohen, the key witness in the criminal trial of the former president.

U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) speaks during a news conference in front of the Capitol December 6, 2017 in Washington, DC.

Republican Rep. Matt Gaetz speaks during the Freedom Tour, which also featured Republican Reps. Ron DeSantis and Jim Jordan, at the Fish House on Saturday, August 18, 2018.

Rep. Matt Gaetz talks to the crowd at the Donald Trump re-election campaign rally at Panama City Beach, Fla., on Wednesday, May 8, 2019.

Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, left, talk with Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., right, during a break as the House Judiciary Committee considers the investigative findings in the impeachment inquiry against President Donald Trump, on Capitol Hill in Washington, Monday, Dec. 9, 2019.

Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla. speaks as the House Judiciary Committee markup of H.Res. 755, Articles of Impeachment Against President Donald J. Trump in Washington, DC on Dec. 12, 2019.

Congressman Matt Gaetz, left, and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis during President Trump's Make America Great Again rally at ST Engineering in Pensacola, Florida, on Friday, Oct. 23, 2020.

US Congressman Matt Gaetz speaks to supporters during an outdoor town hall style meeting at the Niceville-Valparaiso Chamber of Commerce Building in Niceville, Fla. on March 30, 2021.

GOP Reps. Lauren Boebert of Colorado, Matt Gaetz of Florida and Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia listening to Attorney General Merrick Garland at a hearing on Oct. 12, 2021 in Washington, D.C.

Rep.-elect Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., talks to fellow members-elect during the second day of elections for Speaker of the House at the U.S. Capitol Building on January 04, 2023 in Washington, DC. The House of Representatives is meeting to vote for the next Speaker after House Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., failed to earn more than 218 votes on three separate Tuesday ballots, the first time in 100 years that the Speaker was not elected on the first ballot.

Lauren Boebert, R-Colo.,.and Matt Gaetz, R-Fla, are seen before the the House of Representatives reconvenes on Friday Jan. 6, 2023, trying to elect a Speaker of the House as the 118th session of Congress begins.

Congressman Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., during the Conservative Political Action Conference, CPAC 2023, at the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center on March 3, 2023.

Florida representative Matt Gaetz speaks at Donald Trump’s Make America Great Again Rally in Waco, Texas, Saturday morning, March 25, 2023.

Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., questions witnesses during the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Constitution and Limited Government holds a hearing on gender affirming care for children on July 27, 2023.

Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., a member of the right-wing House Freedom Caucus, talks to reporters on his way to a House Republican caucus meeting at the U.S. Capitol on Sept. 19, 2023 in Washington, DC.

Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) walks towards the House chamber Friday, Sept. 29, 2023.

Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) answers questions outside the U.S. Capitol after successfully leading a vote to remove Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) from the office of Speaker of the House October 3, 2023 in Washington, DC. McCarthy was removed by a motion to vacate, an effort led by a handful of conservative members of his own party.

Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., right, talks with Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, on the house floor. The House of Representatives reconvened on Wednesday, Jan. 4, 2023, trying to elect a Speaker of the House as the 118th session of Congress begins. Republicans take over the U.S. House of Representatives with a slim majority and Democrats maintain a majority in the U.S. Senate.

Former US representative Matt Gaetz and wife Ginger Luckey wave at a rally for President-elect Donald Trump at the Palm Beach County Convention Center in West Palm Beach, Fla. on Oct.11, 2023.

Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., is seen on the House floor as House lawmakers hold a vote to elect a new speaker in Washington on Tuesday, Oct. 17, 2023. House Republicans nominated the chair of the House Judiciary Committee, Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, to the speakership last week. Jordan's chances of earning 217 votes, the number needed to become speaker, are unclear.

Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., votes for Donald Trump during the seventh round of voting for Speaker of the House. The House of Representatives reconvenes on Thursday, Jan. 5, 2023, trying for a third day to elect a Speaker of the House as the 118th session of Congress begins. Republicans take over the U.S. House of Representatives with a slim majority and Democrats maintain a majority in the U.S. Senate.

Congressman Matt Gaetz speaks during a campaign rally at Navarre Park in Navarre, Fla. on Monday, Oct. 30, 2023.

Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) talks to Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) during a session of the House of Representatives reconvened on Friday, Jan. 6, 2023, to elect a Speaker of the House.

Congressman Matt Gaetz takes a selfie with someone at the Florida State game on Saturday, Nov. 11, 2023.

Congressman Matt Gaetz (R-FL) speaks to reporters on Dec. 14, 2023, after the House passed the National Defense Authorization Act -- a bill that Congress is required to pass every year -- includes a 5.2% pay raise for troops, authorizes funding for Ukraine and an extension of a controversial foreign surveillance program. The billÕs passage concludes a last-minute sprint from Congress to finish the crucial legislation, which cleared the lower chamber by a bipartisan vote of 310-118.

Congressman Matt Gaetz from Florida's 1st congressional district speaks at Turning Point USA 2023 America Fest in the Phoenix Convention Center on Dec. 17, 2023, in Phoenix.

U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz is interveiwed Monday, Jan. 15, 2024, at the Trump caucus night watch party at the Iowa Events Center in Des Moines.

Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) fist bumps a child before former president Donald J. Trump speaks at a campaign rally at SNHU Arena in Manchester, NH, on Saturday, January 20, 2024.

Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) walks to the House chamber in the U.S. Capitol before House Republicans failed to impeach Homeland Security secretary Alejandro Mayorkas on Feb 6, 2024.

Former Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., withdrew his bid to become attroney general on Nov. 21 over continuing allegations of sexual impropriety. President-elect Donald Trump appointed him on Nov. 13, 2024.

Matt Gaetz, former US Congressman talks among Trump supporters who gather as part of the "American Restoration Tour" to persuade people to walk away from Democrats in Beverly Hills in Los Angeles, California on April 27, 2025. A group of counter-protesters also attended this gathering, bashing Trump and his supporters.