‘Bombshell’
Republican U.S. Senator Jeff Flake of Arizona, one of the few outspoken critics of President Trump’s behavior, just announced he will not seek re-election next year, but will serve out the remainder of his term.
Although a vocal critic, Flake’s voting record closely aligned with the president.
“Here’s the bottom line,” Flake told the Arizona Republic. “The path that I would have to travel to get the Republican nomination is a path I’m not willing to take, and that I can’t in good conscience take.”
“It would require me to believe in positions I don’t hold on such issues as trade and immigration and it would require me to condone behavior that I cannot condone.”
The Arizona Republic calls the move a “bombshell.”
Flake, a one-term Senator, joins GOP Sen. Bob Corker and well over a dozen Republicans in the House who have chosen to not seek re-eection.Â
Here’s Flake in August on Trump and the GOP:
UPDATE: 3:13 PM EDT –
On the Senate floor announcing his retirement Flake is eloquently blasting Trump.
More to come.
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