Matt Gaetz appointed to Florida board: ‘I am returning to public service!’

Former Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) announced Tuesday that he is “returning to public service” after being tapped to serve as a board member for the nonprofit Triumph Gulf Coast.

“I am returning to public service!” Gaetz wrote on the social platform X. “I look forward to the work ahead as we continue improving the lives of Northwest Floridians.”

Gaetz said he was appointed by state House Speaker Daniel Perez (R) to sit on a seven-member board for the state-created organization overseeing the disbursement of settlement funds from the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill.

His four-year term will begin July 1 and run through June 30, 2030, according to a letter sent by Perez to Gaetz.

The appointment would be his first public service role since resigning from Congress in 2024, when President Trump nominated him to serve as attorney general.

But Gaetz later withdrew from consideration following an investigation by the Justice Department and a House ethics probe over allegations involving underage women.

While the probe ultimately did not lead to charges and Gaetz denied any wrongdoing, it was evident he would not be able to secure the support from enough senators to be confirmed.

Board members of the Triumph Gulf Coast are appointed by Florida’s top elected officials, including its governor, attorney general and chief financial officer, who each appoint one member. The president of the state Senate and speaker of the House each appoint two members, totaling a seven-member board.

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attorney general

Daniel Perez

Deepwater Horizon

Donald Trump

Justice Department

Matt Gaetz

Matt Gaetz

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