Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz has resigned from Congress, which would put an end into the House Ethics Committee’s current investigation into the congressman

House Speaker Mike Johnson said Gaetz's resignation allows a special election to replace him to move quickly, shoring up the GOP's majority in the House.

Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) has issued his resignation letter from Congress "effective immediately," House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) told reporters on Wednesday. Why it matters: President-elect Trump announced his plans to nominate the controversial right-wing firebrand as attorney general – which will likely lead to a contentious and uncertain fight in the Senate.

Matt Gaetz, Donald Trump's polarizing pick to be the next Attorney General, has long been at the center of controversy.

Former Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz's nomination for attorney general is being met with a variety of reactions from Republicans, including cautious reservation, praise and pointed criticism

In a surprising move, Matt Gaetz resigned from Congress following President Trump’s pick of the Florida representative for attorney general. Gaetz’s resignation effectively halts a House investigation into allegations that he engaged in sexual misconduct and illicit drug use.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump said that Gaetz would "root out the systemic corruption" at the Department of Justice.

The Florida congressman, a polarizing figure on Capitol Hill, could give President-elect Donald J. Trump an ally at the top of the Justice Department who would not resist his directives.