Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) is reportedly considering an early retirement from Congress to take a job at the conservative network Newsmax.
According to Axios, Gaetz has privately indicated he is “seriously considering not seeking re-election.” Gaetz has told those close to him he is interested in “becoming a media personality” and suggested he would take a position at the conservative network.
One of the sources said Gaetz and Newsmax have had discussions about what the role might look like.
The report comes almost two months after Gaetz said he would be willing to resign to defend former President Donald Trump in his Senate impeachment trial.
“Absolutely. If the president called me and wanted me to go defend him on the floor of the Senate, that would be the top priority in my life. I would leave my House seat, I would leave my home,” Gaetz said.
He called the “cancellation of the Trump presidency and the Trump movement” one of “the biggest threats” to his district.
Democratic Rep. Brendan Boyle (Pa.) responded on Twitter, “I strongly support my colleague Matt Gaetz doing this.”
I strongly support my colleague Matt Gaetz doing this. https://t.co/8VbpLc9NK2
— Congressman Brendan Boyle (@RepBrendanBoyle) February 3, 2021
During the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in February, Gaetz slammed Rep. Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.) after she voted to impeach Trump following the insurrection at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, as IJR previously reported.
“Speaking of people who ought to lose primaries… if Liz Cheney were on this stage today, she’d get booed off of it,” Gaetz said.
Cheney fired back at Gaetz in July 2020 after calling for her removal from her role as House Republican Conference chair.
“I’m not going anyplace,” she said.
