Forcing the picks was, and I believe still is being discussed. I had heard that there were at least 8 hard no's from senators on Gaetz, and he personally named 4 that would certainly doom him, so that made forcing his appointment that much harder in the public eye. Confirmation hearings would have almost certainly forced the release of what appears to be a damning report, and he knows they'll be voting on that shortly. If he removed himself now, I think that makes the vote on releasing it passing much less likely. That report could harm him politically and in the private sector. This was probably his best move. Like you said, he's looking for loyalty, so one nominee is really no different than the other.