Ex-U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) says that he would be in prison if the allegations that have been made against him were true. 

Gaetz, according to the Daily Mail, made the remark during a recent appearance on The Charlie Kirk Show. 

This comes after Gaetz decided to withdraw himself from consideration to be the next attorney general of the United States. There will be more on this in a moment.

First, though, we'll take a look at what Gaetz has to say about the allegations that have been made against him.

"I would be . . . probably in a prison cell"

In case you are unfamiliar with the situation, the Associated Press reports:

Gaetz . . . was once embroiled in a sex trafficking investigation by the Justice Department . . . and has been under scrutiny by the House Ethics Committee over allegations including sexual misconduct.

Gaetz has denied any wrongdoing, and the Department of Justice (DOJ) decided not to pursue the matter. This, however, has not stopped the political left - and some establishment Republicans - from trying to use these allegations against him to stop him from becoming the next attorney general.

Gaetz, during the interview, said:

There is a play that is run in Washington when they're trying to smear somebody and, you know, they go and dredge up false, years old allegations of the most salacious and click-baity flavor possible. And in this case, they were. Those allegations were coming from sources that Merrick Garland's DOJ already deemed not credible.

The former congressman further alleged that former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) had something to do with the smear. Gaetz, of course, was instrumental in McCarthy's ouster.

Gaetz concluded by saying, "If the things [in] the House Ethics report were true, I would be under indictment and probably in a prison cell."

He's out

Gaetz shocked many this week by withdrawing his name from consideration for the attorney general position in the incoming Trump administration. He did so after meeting with senators.

I had excellent meetings with Senators yesterday. I appreciate their thoughtful feedback - and the incredible support of so many. While the momentum was strong, it is clear that my confirmation was unfairly becoming a distraction to the critical work of the Trump/Vance…

— Matt Gaetz (@mattgaetz) November 21, 2024

Perhaps the most surprising part about all of this is that Gaetz, before withdrawing, resigned from Congress. And, now, Gaetz has indicated that he will not be returning to Congress.

"I’m still going to be in the fight, but it’s going to be from a new perch. I do not intend to join the 119th Congress," he said.

There is much speculation, at the time of this writing, about what many view as a strange set of circumstances.