Former Representative Matt Gaetz announced on Friday that he will not be returning to Congress, having pulled his name from consideration for the attorney general position under President-elect Donald Trump amid escalating claims of sexual misconduct against him.

“I will continue to be engaged in the fight, but from a different perspective. I do not plan to join the 119th Congress,” Gaetz shared during an interview with conservative host Charlie Kirk. He also highlighted his desire to focus on personal aspirations alongside his wife and family.

This decision followed Gaetz’s withdrawal from the Cabinet nomination process just one day after it began, a move influenced by mounting scrutiny from federal and House Ethics investigations that raised concerns regarding his viability for confirmation as the top federal law enforcement official.

At 42, Gaetz has consistently refuted the allegations leveled against him. His candidacy for attorney general had taken many seasoned lawyers at the Justice Department by surprise, illustrating Trump’s intention to appoint a loyalist to a department that he aims to reshape after facing various legal challenges.

In the immediate aftermath of Gaetz’s withdrawal, Trump put forward Pam Bondi, the former Florida attorney general, as his nominee. Bondi comes to the role with extensive legal experience and embodies the loyalty Trump highly values.

As for Gaetz’s future, uncertainty looms over his next steps since he is no longer part of the House. He stunned many by resigning from Congress on the same day he was nominated for attorney general. Some had speculated that he might still be sworn in for another two-year term on January 3, especially after his recent reelection victory. Yet, with 14 years in various political roles, Gaetz has declared that his congressional career is over.

“I believe that eight years is probably a sufficient amount of time served in the United States Congress,” he remarked.