The scandal-plagued former Florida Congressman Robert Gates has withdrawn his nomination for U.S. attorney general

U.S. President-elect Donald Trump's nominee for Attorney general, former Republican Congressman Robert Gates, has withdrawn his name from consideration.

The New York Times reported that Gates and another controversial Trump nominee for defense secretary, Hegseth, went to Capitol Hill Thursday with Vice President-elect Vance, hoping to win Republican senators' approval of the two nominees.

Gates decided to withdraw his nomination for attorney general after the closed-door meeting.

In a post on the social media platform X, Gates said he wanted to avoid his affairs becoming a distraction for the new administration. He wrote, "There is no time to waste on this pointless fight, and based on that, I am withdrawing my nomination to become Attorney General." The Trump Justice Department must be in place and ready on day one."

Gates, who has faced intense scrutiny for alleged sex trafficking and drug use, withdrew his nomination after concluding he could not win Senate confirmation, according to people familiar with the matter.

The House Ethics Committee is also investigating Gates over allegations that he had sex with a 17-year-old girl. Gates has denied all allegations.

Gates resigned from the House of Representatives last week after Trump nominated him to be attorney general, ahead of the release of a report by a House investigative committee.

On the other hand, Hegseth told reporters after the closed-door meeting on the 21st that he expected to be confirmed by the Senate as defense secretary. A reporter immediately asked him, "Did you sexually assault a woman in Monterey, California?" The incident took place in 2017.

Hegseth responded: "I can tell you very simply that this matter has been thoroughly investigated and I am completely exonerated."

Gates has never worked at the Justice Department or as a prosecutor for the federal government. He was investigated by the FBI for nearly three years on suspicion of illegal sex trafficking, and the FBI closed its investigation last year without bringing any charges against him.

Trump's choice of Gates as attorney general shocked even his own Allies, and it is unclear who Trump would consider to replace Gates.

Trump has named one of his criminal defense lawyers, former federal prosecutor Todd Blanche, as deputy attorney general and former Securities and Exchange Commission Chairman Jay Clayton to lead the high-profile Manhattan prosecutor's office.