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President-elect Donald Trump 's plans to have Matt Gaetz as his attorney general collapsed Thursday when the former congressman withdrew his name from consideration. Trump shocked the nation last week when he chose Gaetz to lead the Justice Department. The Florida Republican was a surprise pick, given his limited experience as a lawyer and because he was the subject of a federal sex trafficking investigation that concluded after the Biden administration declined to bring charges in 2022. Gaetz's nomination was controversial with members of both sides of the aisle and brought renewed attention to the House Ethics Committee investigation into the allegations of sexual abuse and illicit drug use against him. The Republican members of the panel voted to block the release of its report on Wednesday. What happened to Gaetz's nomination? CNN said Gaetz's decision to remove himself from consideration came within an hour after the network reached out to him for comment on new reporting. According to CNN , the woman who claims she had sex with Gaetz as a minor told the ethics committee that she had not one but two sexual encounters with him, the second time including an adult woman. Gaetz said in his announcement that he was withdrawing because his confirmation had "unfairly becoming a distraction to the critical work of the Trump/Vance Transition." In a statement responding to the news, Trump said he "greatly appreciated" Gaetz's recent efforts and that he respected him for not wanting to be a "distraction for the Administration." The president-elect will now have to select someone else to lead the Justice Department. Is Todd Blanche next up? A favorite to replace Gaetz as the attorney general nominee is Todd Blanche, Trump's personal defense lawyer. Blanche, who famously represented the president-elect during his Manhattan criminal hush-money trial, has already been nominated by Trump as the new deputy attorney general. So, elevating Trump from the second-ranking DOJ official to the top of the chain could be a natural move. In the hush-money trial, Trump was convicted on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records in a scheme to conceal payment to adult film star Stormy Daniels in the days leading up to the 2016 presidential election in exchange for her silence about an alleged 2006 sexual encounter. Prior to joining Trump's legal team, Blanche was a federal prosecutor well experienced in white-collar defense cases. After earning his doctor of law degree from Brooklyn Law School in 2003, he joined New York's Southern District, helping to lead the violent crimes unit. He later joined Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft, where he became a partner and represented Paul Manafort , a former Trump campaign chairman who was sentenced to prison for various financial crimes, and Igor Fruman, an associate of former Trump lawyer and former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani . He left the firm and founded Blanche Law to represent Trump earlier this year. As deputy attorney general, Blanche would manage the department's day-to-day functions and serve as an adviser to the attorney general. Blanche isn't the only defense lawyer nominated by Trump to a position in his administration. Emil Bove, who played the other central role in the hush-money case, was chosen as the next principal associate deputy attorney general, and John Sauer, who successfully represented Trump before the U.S. Supreme Court in the presidential immunity case, has been selected as solicitor general. But while Blanche is being viewed by politicos as the next AG, Polymarket, the predictive betting website funded in part by early Trump backer Peter Thiel , does not have Blanche as the front-runner. Blanche has a 27 percent chance of becoming the next attorney general, according to the platform, his odds dropping from 32 percent right after Gaetz's announcement. Who else is in the running for AG? Jay Clayton, who served as the chairman of the Securities Exchange Commission during the first Trump administration, is the top pick on Polymarket with a 47 percent chance of being tapped as the next attorney general. Less than a week ago, Trump announced that he would nominate Clayton to be the U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York. Also leading on Polymarket are Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey, Utah Senator Mike Lee and Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton . Moments after the news of Gaetz's withdrawal, former Republican National Committee Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel told CNN's Dana Bash that Trump is looking for an attorney general "who's going to be loyal, who's going to have his back, who's going to understand what [he] wants to get done." Bailey, Lee and Paxton are all Trump loyalists. Before Gaetz was chosen as the nominee, Bailey was reportedly a front-runner for the position. He unsuccessfully attempted to intervene in Trump's Manhattan criminal case earlier this year to halt the president-elect's sentencing. His high-profile cases as Missouri AG include the lawsuits against the Biden administration over its federal student loan forgiveness program and its alleged collusion with social media companies to censor conservative speech. Bailey was reelected to a full term earlier this month. He has held office since November 2022, when Missouri Governor Mike Parson appointed him to fill the vacancy left when Eric Schmitt was elected to the Senate . Polymarket gives Bailey a 16 percent chance of becoming the next attorney general. Lee has a 14 percent chance of replacing Gaetz, according to the betting platform. The senator was one of the top names for attorney general before Gaetz's nomination. Lee worked closely with Trump in the wake of his 2020 election loss, having voiced in text messages to former White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows that he offered his "unequivocal support for you to exhaust every legal and constitutional remedy at your disposal." Paxton is also close to the president-elect, having accompanied Trump in the courtroom during his trial in New York and waged an unsuccessful challenge to Trump's 2020 loss in four battleground states. Trump first floated Paxton as his attorney general in May, when he called the Texas Republican "a very talented guy" whom he would consider to lead the DOJ during a second Trump administration. Polymarket has Paxton with a 12 percent chance.
Apple Sued for Knowingly Hosting Child Sexual Abuse Material on Its Products, Failing to Protect SurvivorsHow Jill Biden led the family campaign to pressure Joe into changing his mind on a Hunter pardonShare to Facebook Share to Twitter Share to Linkedin Oahu is a beautiful island full of urban pleasures, natural landscapes, and plenty of dining and shopping options. The island of O’ahu is a handsome blend of sandy beaches—where surfers bop up and over waves well past sunset, rich Hawaiian culture, natural landscapes, and all of the wonderful pleasures that you can expect to enjoy in any well populated metropolis. Nearly one million people live on this relatively small island and Honolulu, the capital city, supports the lion’s share. It's easy to get to Honolulu, where nightlife, restaurants, and shopping abounds, and in many cases, it’s inexpensive. Alaska Airlines has many flight options from mainland cities like Seattle, Portland, San Diego, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Denver, Minneapolis, and Chicago. While visiting Oahu, you can add Honolulu Museum of Art , Polynesian Cultural Center , or Pearl Harbor to your itinerary or get outside to test your mettle while surfing , hiking at Diamond Head State Monument, snorkeling, soaking up the sun at Waikiki Beach, or marveling at whales on a boat tour. Of course, you’ll also need to eat at some point. Keep reading to learn about some of the best restaurants in Honolulu. Delight in this beautiful dining room, complete with ambient lighting, rich textures, and comfortable seating. Izakaya 855-Aloha There are many things to adore about Izakaya 855-Aloha, Honolulu’s newest Japanese izakaya with a newfangled Hawaiian twist. Located at Romer House Waikiki , an adults-only haven placed within walking distance to Waikiki Beach, this eatery is a respite from the chaos of the throngs of tourists who flock to the beach and nearby shopping district. Don’t be surprised if you audibly sigh when you enter the unperturbed space, complete with ambient lighting, nods to nostalgia, and a lovely textured design. Share small plates, or not, it’s up to you. 415 Nahua St., Honolulu Enjoy this beautiful bar to sip a cocktail before dinner. Hau Tree Open for brunch, a late lunch, or a beachside dinner, Hau Tree is everything you want a restaurant in Hawaii to be. The views are spectacular, there’s a sprawling tree right in the middle of the floor space to provide privacy, the service is topnotch, and the fare is delicious. This is the place to stretch out, relax, and dine with friends or family. Located on the edge of Waikiki, inside the Kaimana Beach Hotel, this little golden nugget is not to be missed. 2863 Kalakua Ave., Honolulu Mara is unique and flavorful, delighting the senses. Mara With an explosion of Mediterranean design and award-winning dishes with locally sourced ingredients, Mara transports the diner to a seaside destination where seafood and multi-hued vegetables are king. A perfect addition to your sustenance lineup, you’ll be treated to cuisine inspired by Greece, Italy, Morocco and beyond while dining at this gem, located in the Renaissance Honolulu Hotel & Spa . Wear your stretchy pants and arrive hungry—you’ll want to order the whipped burrata, Greek salad, fish prepared and served three different ways, the yuzu lemon cream pavlova, and paired wine or cocktails. The open kitchen creates a lively and social atmosphere where you can watch the masters at work. 1390 Kapiolani Blvd., Honolulu The two-story oceanarium isn't the only marvelous stand out at this restaurant. La Bettola Located in the popular and well located ʻAlohilani Resort , La Bettola is a treat for the senses. Whether you’re interested in tasting local Hawaiian fish pulled from the sea, or you’d like a classic yet rustic Italian dish, you’ll be delighted with a meal here. Chef Tsutomu Ochiai, who campions the uni pasta (sea urchin), invites guests to enjoy the Waikiki Oceanarium—a marvelous 280,000-gallon two-story saltwater behemoth full of Hawaiian fish—while they sip a cocktail at his only restaurant outside of Japan. 2490 Kalakaua Ave., Honolulu Editorial Standards Forbes Accolades Join The Conversation One Community. Many Voices. Create a free account to share your thoughts. 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Pakistani security forces have launched an operation to disperse supporters of imprisoned former prime minister Imran Khan who had gathered in the capital to demand his release from prison. The latest development came hours after thousands of his supporters, defying government warnings, broke through a barrier of shipping containers blocking off Islamabad and entered a high-security zone, where they clashed with security forces, facing tear gas shelling, mass detentions and gunfire. Tension has been high in Islamabad since Sunday when supporters of the former PM began a “long march” from the restive north-west to demand his release. Khan has been in a prison for more than a year and faces more than 150 criminal cases that his party says are politically motivated. Khan’s wife, Bushra Bibi, led the protest, but she fled as police pushed back against demonstrators. Hundreds of Khan’s supporters are being arrested in the ongoing night-time operation. Interior minister Mohsin Naqvi told reporters that the Red Zone, which houses government buildings and embassies, and the surrounding areas have been cleared. Leaders from Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party, or PTI, have also fled the protest site. Earlier on Tuesday, Pakistan’s army took control of D-Chowk, a large square in the Red Zone, where visiting Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko is staying. Since Monday, Mr Naqvi had threatened that security forces would use live fire if protesters fired weapons at them. “We have now authorised the police to respond as necessary,” Mr Naqvi said Tuesday while visiting the square. Before the operation began, protester Shahzor Ali said people had taken to the streets because Khan had called for them. “We will stay here until Khan joins us. He will decide what to do next,” Mr Ali said. Protester Fareeda Bibi, who is not related to Khan’s wife, said people have suffered greatly for the last two years. “We have really suffered for the last two years, whether it is economically, politically or socially. We have been ruined. I have not seen such a Pakistan in my life,” she said. Authorities have struggled to contain the protest-related violence. Six people, including four members of the security services, were killed when a vehicle rammed them on a street overnight into Tuesday. A police officer died in a separate incident. Dozens of Khan supporters beat a videographer covering the protest for the Associated Press and took his camera. He sustained head injuries and was treated in hospital. By Tuesday afternoon, fresh waves of protesters made their way unopposed to their final destination in the Red Zone. Mr Naqvi said Khan’s party had rejected a government offer to rally on the outskirts of the city. Information minister Atta Tarar warned there would be a severe government reaction to the violence. The government says only the courts can order Khan’s release. He was ousted in 2022 through a no-confidence vote in Parliament. In a bid to foil the unrest, police have arrested more than 4,000 Khan supporters since Friday and suspended mobile and internet services in some parts of the country. Messaging platforms were also experiencing severe disruption in the capital. Khan’s party relies heavily on social media and uses messaging platforms such as WhatsApp to share information, including details of events. The X platform, which is banned in Pakistan, is no longer accessible, even with a VPN. Last Thursday, a court prohibited rallies in the capital and Mr Naqvi said anyone violating the ban would be arrested. Travel between Islamabad and other cities has become nearly impossible because of shipping containers blocking the roads. All education institutions remain closed.Trump vows to block Japanese steelmaker from buying US Steel, pledges tax incentives and tariffsCommunity news for Bishop's Waltham, Upham, Swanmore and Meon Valley