casino live crazy time

casino live crazy time PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Makenzie McGill II ran for 155 yards and scored a pair of touchdowns and North Texas ended a five-game losing streak beating Temple 24-17 on Saturday in a regular-season ender for both teams. The win helped North Texas (6-6, 3-5 American Athletic Conference) reach bowl eligibility. Prior to Saturday, the Mean Green hadn't won since Oct. 12 when they beat Florida Atlantic 41-37. The game's scoring outcome was settled by halftime. Chandler Morris threw a 14-yard touchdown to DT Sheffield on the game's opening drive for a 7-0 UNT lead. Kali Nguma added a 36-yard field 19 seconds later following a Temple turnover. The Owls (3-9, 2-6) got on the board with Maddux Trujillo's 44-yard field goal. McGill made it 17-3 with a 39-yard scoring run. Eight seconds into the second quarter, McGill ran 51 yards to the end zone for a 24-3 edge. Temple got two touchdowns before the half ended when Joquez Smith and Evan Simon each ran it in from the 1 to reduce the deficit to 24-17. North Texas clinched a bowl berth for the 15th time in program history and eighth time since 2013. It's the first time in the Eric Morris era North Texas has qualified for a bowl. Temple hasn't posted a winning season since 2019 when it went 8-5 and ended the season with a 55-13 loss to North Carolina in the Northrop Grumman Military Bowl. The Owls have ended the last four seasons with records of 3-9. Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here . AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-footballDon McHenry scores 7 of his 29 points in OT to rally Western Kentucky past Murray State 81-76Emmerdale fans believe they've cracked the code behind Joe Tate's unexpected return to the Dales. Joe, portrayed by Ned Porteous, made a dramatic return to Emmerdale over the festive period, arriving just in time for the tragic demise of Will Taylor (Dean Andrews), Kim Tate 's (Claire King) spouse. With his sudden appearance shrouded in mystery, questions have surfaced about Joe's hidden agenda and underlying issues. Devoted Emmerdale viewers took to social media en masse to speculate on his 'true' intentions, suggesting that either financial woes or a grave illness could be at play. One tweeted: "If they've just brought Joe back to kill him off, I'm not going to be happy.. # Emmerdale ," while another surmised: "Joe's going to have some terminal illness, isn't he? # Emmerdale ." Another viewer guessed: "I reckon Joe is only back because he ran out of money because he's a drugs addict # Emmerdale ," with another simply asking: "What's up with Joe... # Emmerdale ." Ned Porteous revealed his thoughts about returning as Joe: "I'm so excited to be returning to Emmerdale . There's a lot of unfinished business for Joe, and it feels like the right time for him to make a comeback. "Joe has always been a character with a dark side, but there could be something much bigger at play here. Joe is back for a reason, and the devastation at Home Farm is just the beginning of a much bigger story." He added: "It's safe to say the audience can expect fireworks this holiday season!" Producer Laura Shaw couldn't contain her excitement, adding: "We are thrilled to welcome Ned back to Village. From the moment Joe arrives on screen, it's clear there's trouble ahead but Joe's hiding an even darker secret that could see 2025 start off with a huge bang." In tonight's gripping episode, the disappearance of April (Amelia Flanagan) has Marlon (Mark Charnock) frantically seeking his daughter. Despite Marlon's valiant efforts, including a visit to Jade in hopes she harboured April, her whereabouts remain a mystery. Jade, however, faces her own drama as she ends up in handcuffs, with Marlon inadvertently accelerating the police inquiry during his raid at an illicit boxing venue. The plot thickens at the close with Billy (Jay Kontzle) voicing his suspicions about Joe's involvement in Will's demise to Dawn (Olivia Bromley), after recounting Joe's history in the village. The question lingers ominously is Joe responsible for Will's death? * Emmerdale airs weekdays at 7.30pm on ITV1 and ITVX, with an hour long episode on Thursdays.

The 39th President of the United States has died at 100. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution confirmed the news with a post on X, stating the son of the former president said his father had died around 3:40 p.m. ET in his Plains home. Jimmy Carter, the 39th President of the United States, died Sunday, Dec. 29, 2024, at 100 years old. Much has changed in the U.S. in the last 100 years, from the population boom to prohibition and the national debt. Carter lived through a third of all U.S. presidencies: nine before he was president, and seven since. When former President Jimmy Carter was born Oct. 1, 1924, the life expectancy for American males was 58. That was a hundred years ago, and a lot has changed in the century since Carter’s birth. Carter died Sunday, Dec. 29, in his hometown of Plains, Georgia, after entering hospice care Feb. 18, 2023. He was 100 years old – the longest-living president in U.S. history. Here’s what else has changed since the 39th president was born: The U.S. population has tripled. The U.S. has about 331 million residents now; there were about 114 million in 1924 and 220 million when Carter took office in 1977. The world population has quadrupled, from about 1.9 billion to 8.02 billion. It had already more than doubled to 4.36 billion by the time Carter became president. Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter in October 2005 (Credit: The Carter Center) That boom has not reached Plains, Georgia, where Carter and wife Rosalynn were born and lived until their deaths. The tiny south Georgia town comprised fewer than 500 people in the 1920s and has 775 or so today, with much of the local economy revolving around its most famous residents. READ MORE: Why Jimmy Carter, family members were wearing leis at Rosalynn Carter's funeral There was no Amazon Prime in 1924, but you could order a build-it-yourself house from a catalog. Sears Roebuck Gladstone’s three-bedroom model went for $2,025 — slightly less than the average worker’s annual income. As of May 2024, the median price for buying a home in the U.S. was roughly $400,000. According to USA Today , the average U.S. annual salary at the end of 2023 was $59,384. Walmart didn’t exist, but locally-owned general stores served the same purpose. Ballpark prices: loaf of bread, 9 cents; gallon of milk, 54 cents; gallon of gas, 11 cents. Today, those items would cost you, on average, $2, $3.89 and $3.43, respectively. Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter shaking hands w/ children at Indonesian elections June 5-9, 1999. (Credit: The Carter Center) Inflation and spiking gas prices, incidentally, helped drive Carter from office, though the average gallon in 1980, Carter’s last full year, was $2.66 when adjusted for inflation. When Carter was born , the stock market was just beginning a rapid rise that led to the 1929 crash. Prohibition had been in effect for four years when Carter was born and wouldn’t be lifted until he was 9 years old. The Carters were never prodigious drinkers, famously serving only wine at state dinners. Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter in the Middle East in 1979 (Credit: The Carter Center) Carter’s younger brother Billy, who owned a Plains gas station and died in 1988, had different tastes, even marketing his own brand, Billy Beer, once Carter became president. News sources at the time reported that the presidential sibling snagged a $50,000 annual licensing fee from one brewer. That would be about $215,000 in 2019, measured by consumer price index inflation. The president’s annual salary at the time was $200,000. The average retail price for a six-pack of beer during Jimmy Carter’s first year in office was $2.65. It’s about $9 today. All but two presidents since 1900 have contributed to the national debt, according to USA Today . The Times Square debt clock didn’t debut until Carter was in his early 60s and out of the White House. But for those counting America’s $34 trillion debt, Carter doesn’t merit much mention, even considering he served only one term. His cumulative debt: Less than $300 billion, leaving the total debt below $1 trillion. Carter is the only graduate of the United States Naval Academy to become commander in chief. He’s also the only military academy graduate president who wasn’t a wartime commander: West Point alumni Ulysses S. Grant and Dwight Eisenhower led U.S. military efforts in the Civil War and World War II, respectively. The first year the Naval Academy included women was 1976, when Carter was elected. Last November, a month after Carter reached 94, New Jersey’s Mikie Sherrill (Class of ’94) and Virginia’s Elaine Loria (Class of ’97) became the first women Naval Academy graduates elected to Congress. READ MORE: Jimmy Carter’s military career was unique among presidents Carter lived through a third of all U.S. presidencies: nine before he was president, seven since. The man Carter beat — Gerald Ford — and the man who defeated him — Ronald Reagan — also lived into their 90s. Bush and John Adams are the only others who have done so. Official White House portrait of President Harry Truman, Jimmy Carter's favorite president. Photo credit: Greta Kempton/White House. Carter’s favorite president? Not the one he saw in the mirror. It’s Harry Truman. He lived to 88. The Source: Information in this article was taken from The Associated Press and a USA Today report.

By ZEKE MILLER, Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump’s transition team on Tuesday signed an agreement to allow the Justice Department to conduct background checks on his nominees and appointees after a weeks-long delay. The step lets Trump transition aides and future administration staffers obtain security clearances before Inauguration Day to access classified information about ongoing government programs, an essential step for a smooth transiton of power. It also allows those nominees who are up for Senate confirmation to face the background checks lawmakers want before voting on them. Teams of investigators have been standing by to process clearances for Trump aides and advisers. “This agreement with the Department of Justice will ensure President Trump and his team are ready on Day 1 to begin enacting the America First Agenda that an overwhelming majority of our nation supported on Election Day,” said Susie Wiles, Trump’s designate to be White House chief of staff. The announcement comes a week after the Trump transition team signed an agreement with the Biden White House to allow transition staff to coordinate with the existing federal workforce before taking office on Jan. 20. The White House agreement was supposed to have been signed by Oct. 1, according to the Presidential Transition Act, and the Biden White House had issued both public and private appeals for Trump’s team to sign on. Security clearances are required to access classified information, including on ongoing operations and threats to the nation, and the Biden White House and outside experts have emphasized to Trump’s team the importance of having cleared personnel before Inauguration Day so they could be fully briefed and ready to run the government. Republican Senators have also insisted on FBI background checks for Trump’s nominees before they face confirmation votes, as has been standard practice for decades. Lawmakers have been particularly interested in seeing the findings of reviews into Trump’s designated nominee for defense secretary, former Fox News host Pete Hegseth, and for Rep. Tulsi Gabbard to be director of national intelligence. “That’s why it’s so important that we have an FBI background check, a committee review of extensive questions and questionnaires, and a public hearing,” said. Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine on Monday. John Thune, the incoming Senate Republican leader, said the Trump team “understands there’s going to have to be a thorough vetting of all these nominees.” AP congressional correspondent Lisa Mascaro contributed.Trump calls Florida meeting with Trudeau productive amid stiff tariff threatWare scores 17 points as UT Arlington knocks off UL Monroe 77-68

Eagle-eyed viewers spot Tulisa was eager to remove 'all traces' of I'm A Celeb

WASHINGTON — Jimmy Carter, the former peanut farmer who tried to restore virtue to the White House after the Watergate scandal and Vietnam War, then rebounded from a landslide defeat to become a global advocate of human rights and democracy, has died at age 100. The Carter Center said the 39th president died on Sunday afternoon, more than a year after entering hospice care, at his home in Plains, Georgia, where he and his wife, Rosalynn, who died in November last year, lived most of their lives. The center said he died peacefully, surrounded by his family. As reactions poured in from around the world, President Joe Biden mourned Carter’s death, saying the world lost an "extraordinary leader, statesman and humanitarian" and he had lost a dear friend. Biden cited Carter's compassion and moral clarity, his work to eradicate disease, forge peace, advance civil and human rights, promote free and fair elections, house the homeless and advocacy for the disadvantaged as an example for others. "To all of the young people in this nation and for anyone in search of what it means to live a life of purpose and meaning – the good life – study Jimmy Carter, a man of principle, faith, and humility," Biden said in a statement. "He showed that we are a great nation because we are a good people – decent and honorable, courageous and compassionate, humble and strong." Biden said he is ordering a state funeral for Carter in Washington. A moderate Democrat, Carter ran for the presidency in 1976 as a little-known Georgia governor with a broad grin, effusive Baptist faith and technocratic plans for efficient government. His promise to never deceive the American people resonated after Richard Nixon's disgrace and the US defeat in southeast Asia. "If I ever lie to you, if I ever make a misleading statement, don't vote for me. I would not deserve to be your president," Carter said. Americans were captivated by the earnest engineer, and while an election-year Playboy interview drew snickers when he said he "had looked on many women with lust. I've committed adultery in my heart many times," voters tired of political cynicism found it endearing. Carter's victory over Republican Gerald Ford, whose fortunes fell after pardoning Nixon, came amid Cold War pressures, turbulent oil markets and social upheaval over race, women’s rights and America's role in the world. The first family set an informal tone in the White House, carrying their own luggage, trying to silence the Marine Band’s traditional 'Hail to the Chief' and enrolling their daughter, Amy, in public schools. Carter was lampooned for wearing a cardigan and urging Americans to turn down their thermostats. But he set the stage for an economic revival and sharply reduced America's dependence on foreign oil by deregulating the energy industry along with airlines, trains and trucking. He established the departments of Energy and Education, appointed record numbers of women and non-whites to federal posts, preserved millions of acres of Alaskan wilderness and pardoned most Vietnam draft evaders. His achievements also included brokering peace in the Middle East by keeping Egyptian President Anwar Sadat and Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin at Camp David for 13 days in 1978. But his coalition splintered under double-digit inflation and the 444-day hostage crisis in Iran. After Carter reluctantly agreed to admit the exiled Shah of Iran to the US for medical treatment, the American Embassy in Tehran was overrun in 1979. Talks to quickly free the hostages broke down and eight Americans died when a top-secret military rescue attempt failed. His negotiations did ultimately bring the hostages home alive, but in a final insult, Iran didn’t release them until the inauguration of Ronald Reagan, who had trounced him in the 1980 election. Humbled and back home in Georgia, Carter said his faith demanded that he keep doing whatever he could, for as long as he could, to try to make a difference. He and Rosalynn co-founded The Carter Center in 1982 and spent the next 40 years traveling the world as peacemakers, human rights advocates and champions of democracy and public health. Awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002 "for his decades of untiring effort to find peaceful solutions to international conflicts", Carter helped ease nuclear tensions in North and South Korea, avert a US invasion of Haiti and negotiate ceasefires in Bosnia and Sudan. By 2022, the centre had monitored at least 113 elections around the world. But the common observation that he was better as an ex-president rankled Carter. His allies were pleased that he lived long enough to see biographers and historians revisit his presidency and declare it more impactful than many had understood it at the time. After a cancer diagnosis in 2015, Carter said he felt "perfectly at ease with whatever comes." "I've had a wonderful life," he said, "I've had thousands of friends, I've had an exciting, adventurous and gratifying existence." — Euronews < Previous Page Next Page >Amid an ongoing diplomatic row over the arrest of a Hindu priest, Bangladesh on Saturday said India needs to address Dhaka's longstanding concerns to improve bilateral ties but remained optimistic about good relations with bilateral interests protected. Bangladesh's Foreign Affairs Adviser Touhid Hossain also acknowledged that there is a “change in the relations” between the two neighbours after August 5 and said it is a “reality.” India needs to address Bangladesh's longstanding concerns to improve bilateral ties between Dhaka and New Delhi, Hossain said adding: “Bangladesh's previous (ousted) government addressed the concerns of India, but India did not address Bangladesh's concerns.” Deposed prime minister Sheikh Hasina fled to India on August 5 following widespread protests against her Awami League-led government over a controversial job quota system. Three days later, Muhammad Yunus, a Nobel laureate, took over as the Chief Adviser of the interim government. The diplomatic row erupted between India and Bangladesh after Hindu priest Chinmoy Krishna Das, a former member of International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON), was arrested from Dhaka’s Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport on Monday. Das, the spokesperson for the Bangladesh Sammilita Sanatani Jagran Jote, was denied bail and sent to jail by the Chattogram’s Sixth Metropolitan Magistrate court in a sedition case on Tuesday. It triggered clashes between his supporters and the security personnel that led to the killing of a lawyer. Hossain was speaking at a roundtable titled 'Bangladesh-India Relations: Expectations, Barriers and Future' organised by the South Asian Institute of Policy and Governance (SIPG) and the Department of Political Science & Sociology (PSS), North South University here, state-run news agency Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS) said. The Foreign Affairs Adviser acknowledged that “there is a change in the relations after August 5,” and said, “This is reality” but remained optimistic about bilateral relationship despite current diplomatic challenges. “Dhaka wants to remain optimistic that we would be able to establish a good relation with India making sure that bilateral interests are protected,” BSS said quoting Hossain. He emphasised the importance of a national consensus on foreign policy, saying Bangladesh could not fully capitalise its potentials due to political divisions. Following this week's anti-Hindu incidents -- including Das' arrest and attacks on Hindu temples and community members -- India on Friday said the interim government in Bangladesh must live up to its responsibility of protecting all minorities as it expressed serious concern over the “surge” of extremist rhetoric and increasing incidents of violence against Hindus as well as attacks on temples. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar told Parliament that India has taken serious note of incidents of violence against minorities in Bangladesh and that it is the primary responsibility of Dhaka to protect the life and liberty of all the citizens, including minorities. On the other hand, Bangladesh on Friday expressed deep concern over the violent protest at the Deputy High Commission in Kolkata and urged New Delhi to ensure the safety of all its diplomatic missions in India. Among other issues, Hossain also pointed out that there has been no progress on crucial issues between Bangladesh and India such as the Teesta water sharing agreement or the troubling problem of border killings, the BSS added. (This report has been published as part of the auto-generated syndicate wire feed. Apart from the headline, no editing has been done in the copy by ABP Live.)

South Korean law enforcement officials have requested a court warrant to detain impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol. They are investigating whether his short-lived martial law decree earlier this month amounted to rebellion. The Corruption Investigation Office for High-Ranking Officials, which is leading a joint investigation with police and military authorities into the power grab that lasted only a few hours, confirmed it requested the warrant on Monday. Investigators plan to question Mr Yoon on charges of abuse of authority and orchestrating a rebellion. Mr Yoon has dodged several requests by the joint investigation team and public prosecutors to appear for questioning and has also blocked searches of his offices. It is not clear whether the court will grant the warrant or whether Mr Yoon can be compelled to appear for questioning. Under the country’s laws, locations potentially linked to military secrets cannot be seized or searched without the consent of the person in charge and it is unlikely Mr Yoon will voluntarily leave his residence if he faces detainment. Mr Yoon’s presidential powers were suspended after the National Assembly voted to impeach him on December 14 over his imposition of martial law that lasted only hours but has triggered weeks of political turmoil, halted high-level diplomacy and rattled financial markets. His fate lies with the Constitutional Court, which has begun deliberations on whether to uphold the impeachment and formally remove Mr Yoon from office or reinstate him. Mr Yoon has defended the martial law decree as a necessary act of governance, describing it as a warning against the liberal opposition Democratic Party, which has been bogging down his agenda with its majority in the parliament. Parliament voted last week to also impeach Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, who had assumed the role of acting president after Mr Yoon’s powers were suspended, over his reluctance to fill three Constitutional Court vacancies ahead of the court’s review of Mr Yoon’s case. The country’s new interim leader is Deputy Prime Minister Choi Sang-mok, who is also finance minister.

HUNTINGTON, W.V. (AP) — Marshall has withdrawn from the Independence Bowl after a coaching change resulted in much of its roster jumping into the transfer portal. The Thundering Herd were slated to play Army on Dec. 28 in Shreveport, Louisiana. But the Independence Bowl and Louisiana Tech announced on Saturday that the Bulldogs will take on the 19th-ranked Black Knights instead. Marshall said it pulled out “after falling below the roster minimum that was deemed medically safe.” The Herd (10-3) beat Louisiana-Lafayette 31-3 last weekend to win the Sun Belt Conference Championship for the first time. The program has won seven games in a row in the same season for the first time since 2020. “We apologize for the nature and timing of this announcement and for the turmoil it has brought to bowl season preparations for Army, the Radiance Technologies Independence Bowl, the American Athletic Conference and ESPN,” Sun Belt Commissioner Keith Gill said in a statement. Coach Charles Huff left Marshall for Southern Miss last Sunday, and Tony Gibson, the defensive coordinator at North Carolina State, was announced as his replacement less than an hour later. By Thursday, at least 25 Marshall players had entered the transfer portal. Gibson held a meeting shortly after arriving on campus in Huntington to introduce himself to the team. He followed that up with phone calls, text messages and more meetings Friday and Saturday. “Any time coaches leave to take other jobs, it is emotional,” Gibson said at a news conference Thursday. “And kids that are 18-to-22 years old are going to make emotional decisions instead of just breathing for a day or two.” It's the first bowl for Louisiana Tech (5-7) since 2020. The Bulldogs have won two of their last three games, but they haven't played since a 33-0 victory over Kennesaw State on Nov. 30. “We are excited to accept the opportunity to play in the Radiance Technologies Independence Bowl against a fantastic and storied program as Army,” Louisiana Tech athletic director Ryan Ivey said in a release. “I believe our football program is moving toward positive structure and the opportunity to play in this bowl adds to that momentum. We are looking forward to being in Shreveport for this matchup.” Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here . AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-football

WATCH: West Virginia Mountaineers - Texas Tech Highlights, Interviews

Eknath Shinde health update: Shinde, who had travelled to Delhi to attend a high-level Mahayuti meeting with Union Home Minister Amit Shah, BJP President J P Nadda, Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis, and Ajit Pawar, returned to his hometown in Dare village, Satara, following the meeting. His sudden return and subsequent illness have fuelled speculation about dissatisfaction within the alliance. New Delhi: Amid the ongoing uncertainty over the next Chief Minister of Maharashtra, caretaker CM Eknath Shinde has been reported unwell. His family doctor, Dr RM Patre, confirmed that Shinde is suffering from a viral infection and fever, with his temperature reaching 99°F. “He developed a throat infection due to the cold, and treatment is ongoing at home. He has been on antibiotics and saline. His condition has improved significantly, and he even had a conversation with us today. A team of four doctors is monitoring him, and he is expected to return to Mumbai tomorrow,” said Dr Patre while talking to news agency ANI. Team of four doctors monitoring Shinde Despite the Mahayuti alliance securing a landslide victory in the recent Maharashtra assembly elections, the question of who will assume the Chief Minister’s role remains unresolved. It has been seven days since the results were announced, with no official declaration from the BJP-led alliance. The alliance, comprising the BJP, Eknath Shinde’s Shiv Sena, and Ajit Pawar’s Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), won 230 of the 288 assembly seats, far exceeding the majority mark of 145. However, negotiations over power-sharing appear to be causing delays in announcing the new leadership. Key Mahayuti meet cancelled in Mumbai Shinde, who had travelled to Delhi to attend a high-level Mahayuti meeting with Union Home Minister Amit Shah, BJP President J P Nadda, Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis, and Ajit Pawar, returned to his hometown in Dare village, Satara, following the meeting. His sudden return and subsequent illness have fuelled speculation about dissatisfaction within the alliance. Reports suggest that the scheduled Mahayuti meeting in Mumbai had to be cancelled, further intensifying rumours of discord. However, Shinde’s Shiv Sena faction has refuted claims of any discontent, attributing his absence solely to health concerns. The BJP emerged as the largest party in the elections, securing 132 seats, while Shinde’s Shiv Sena and Pawar’s NCP won 57 and 41 seats, respectively. Despite this overwhelming mandate, the delay in naming the Chief Minister has led to speculation of power struggles within the alliance. Click for more latest India news . Also get top headlines and latest news from India and around the world at News9. Prabhakar Jha is currently working as Chief Copy Editor at News9 Digital. He has over eight years of experience in this field. He has a keen interest in politics and world affairs.Authored by Jack Phillips via The Epoch Times (emphasis ours), Former Florida Congressman Matt Gaetz on Friday responded to speculation that he could return to the U.S. House after he withdrew his name from consideration as President-elect Donald Trump’s choice for attorney general. Gaetz on Thursday said in a social media post that he would be withdrawing his name because he does not want to become “a distraction” for the Trump transition team’s work, although he had “excellent meetings” with senators, he said. A day later, he told podcaster and conservative activist Charlie Kirk that he would not be going back to the House of Representatives. While Gaetz resigned from his current term in office, he won his reelection bid on Nov. 5, prompting speculation that he could still serve out his forthcoming term. “ I’m still going to be in the fight, but it’s going to be from a new perch ,“ Gaetz said on Friday. ” I do not intend to join the 119th Congress; there are a number of fantastic Floridians who’ve stepped up to run for my seat, people who have inspired with their heroism, with their public service. ” “And I’m actually excited to see Northwest Florida go to new heights and have great representation,” he said, referring to Florida’s First Congressional District, which he had represented. Based on historical data and trends, it appears unlikely that the First District will be flipped by a Democratic candidate. Gaetz won his reelection bid by more than 30 points, and a Democrat hasn’t represented the area since 1995. “I’m going to be fighting for President Trump. I’m going to be doing whatever he asks of me, as I always have,“ he told Kirk, echoing a comment he wrote in his Thursday announcement. ”But I think that eight years is probably enough time in the United States Congress.” Other than Gaetz, Trump has tapped several other Florida politicians to serve in his Cabinet in some capacity, including Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) as his secretary of state and Rep. Mike Waltz (R-Fla.) as his national security adviser. Hours after Gaetz withdrew his name from consideration, Trump named Republican former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi, also his former personal attorney, to become the U.S. attorney general. In response, Gaetz wrote on X that Bondi is a “stellar selection” who will “bring the needed reforms” to the Department of Justice (DOJ). Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis last week announced a special election to fill the congressional seats that will soon be vacant, later saying he would be making a decision in early January on who will serve out Rubio’s term in the Senate. There has been media-driven speculation that DeSantis, a Republican, could tap Gaetz to take Rubio’s seat, although the governor, Gaetz, and Rubio have not made any public remarks on whether that could be a possibility. “We have already received strong interest from several possible candidates, and we continue to gather names of additional candidates and conduct preliminary vetting,” DeSantis said in his statement about Rubio’s seat. “More extensive vetting and candidate interviews will be conducted over the next few weeks, with a selection likely made by the beginning of January.” Before withdrawing his name, Gaetz faced intense media and congressional scrutiny over various allegations of misconduct while he was a congressman. The House Ethics Committee announced in 2021 that he was under investigation for alleged sexual misconduct, illicit drug use, and other matters. Gaetz has categorically denied the allegations, saying that the DOJ had informed him that a related investigation was closed and resulted in no criminal charges against him. Gaetz again refuted the allegations while speaking to Kirk. He decried the allegations within the House Ethics panel report as part of a “smear campaign” against him, describing the claims as “false” and “clickbaity.” “Those allegations were coming from sources that Merrick Garland’s DOJ had already deemed not credible,” he said, referring to the current attorney general. “Like if the things that the House Ethics report were true, I would be under indictment and probably in a prison cell.”