Washington DC/IBNS: Scandal-hit Matt Gaetz, who was nominated by President-elect Donald Trump to take over as the US attorney general in the new administration, pulled out of the confirmation process on Thursday.

This is seen as an early setback for the incoming Trump administration.

Gaetz was one of Trump's several headline-grabbing selections, including Fox News host Pete Hegseth as defense secretary, vaccine skeptic Robert F Kennedy Jr. as health secretary and billionaire Elon Musk to head a government cost-cutting unit.

A congressional panel had been investigating alleged illegal activity by Gaetz, including sexual abuse of a 17-year-old girl. However Gaetz has denied the charge as well as drug use and misappropriation of campaign funds, AFP reported.

He was facing a hard battle to win confirmation in the Senate for the top legal role amid widespread opposition, including some from within his own Republican Party.

Pulling out of the confirmation, Gaetz, in an X post, wrote: "I had excellent meetings with Senators yesterday. I appreciate their thoughtful feedback -- and the incredible support of so many."

"While the momentum was strong, it is clear that my confirmation was unfairly becoming a distraction to the critical work of the Trump/Vance Transition," he said.

Gaetz was first elected to the US House of Representatives in 2016 and won reelection this month.

He resigned as a congressman shortly after Trump picked him as attorney general.

"Matt has a wonderful future, and I look forward to watching all of the great things he will do," Trump said in response to his withdrawal.

Several of Trump's nominations have triggered criticism, including that of Defense nominee Hegseth.

He was investigated for sexual assault after a complaint from an unnamed woman at a 2017 conference in California.