Scandal-scarred Gaetz appears to flirt with Senate run

Firebrand former Rep. Matt Gaetz on Sunday teased that he might run for US Senate — even as he faces renewed scrutiny over accusations of sexual misconduct.

Gaetz (R-Fla.), speaking at a conservative event in Arizona, noted how senators essentially tanked his brief bid to become US attorney general.

“It seems I may not have had enough support in the United States Senate. Maybe I’ll just run for Marco Rubio’s vacant seat in the United States Senate and join some of those folks,” Gaetz quipped at the Turning Point Action’s AmericaFest event in Phoenix.

Rubio, a Florida senator, has been tapped by President-elect Donald Trump as his secretary of state-designee.

Gaetz, 42, was initially picked by Trump to become the country’s next AG but forced to withdraw last month over the misconduct accusations, which have now been detailed in a draft released Monday of a bombshell new House ethics report.

Sunday’s audience applauded Gaetz’s Senate comments, but it is unclear how sincere he was about possibly seeking a seat in the upper congressional chamber.

The ex-Sunshine State rep resigned from Congress upon getting selected as Donald Trump’s AG pick and has since said that he won’t return to the lower chamber next month, even though he’s no longer in the running for the top law-enforcement job.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) is expected to name a temporary fill-in for Rubio’s seat next month. That person will likely serve in the seat until a special election in 2026 for the last two years of its term.

The House’s draft report about Gaetz alleged that he paid more than $90,000 to 12 women and unfurled evidence of numerous instances of Gaetz meeting with women between early 2017 through mid-2020 “who were paid for sex and/or drugs.”

Perhaps the most striking accusation, which was previously known, is that Gaetz had sex with a minor — something he has denied.

During his remarks at AmericaFest, Gaetz took note of speculation that he was eyeing the Sunshine State governor’s mansion. DeSantis is term-limited and therefore can’t seek reelection in 2026.

“Many have asked which perch I will be fighting from next, and some of you throughout this conference have even given me a few suggestions,” Gaetz mused during his remarks.

“My fellow Floridians have asked me to eye the governor’s mansion in Tallahassee, maybe special counsel to go after the insider trading for my former colleagues in Congress.”

In the meantime, Gaetz has stuck to his side hustle on Cameo, a platform for celebrities to cut paid videos for the public.

The former rep is also set to anchor a show on the One America News Network starting in January.