Republican Michigan Rep. Paul Mitchell will change his party affiliation to Independent, citing President Donald Trump’s refusal to concede the 2020 presidential election and more.
Mitchell said he has put in a request to the Clerk of the House to change his party affiliation to “independent,” in an interview with CNN.
“This election simply confirms for me that it’s all about power first, and that, frankly, is disgusting and demoralizing,” Mitchell told CNN’s Jake Tapper.
GOP Rep. Paul Mitchell tells @jaketapper on @CNN that he is leaving the Republican Party and will serve as an independent for the rest of his term. “This election simply confirms for me that it’s all about power first, and that, frankly, is disgusting and demoralizing.”
— Ryan Struyk (@ryanstruyk) December 14, 2020
Mitchell also sent a letter to leaders in the Republican Party, saying he will be dropping his “engagement and association with the Republican Party at both the national and state level.”
READ THE LETTER HERE:
Today I am disaffiliating from the Republican Party.
See my letter below: pic.twitter.com/76IxC4FMvJ
— Rep. Paul Mitchell (@RepPaulMitchell) December 14, 2020
Rep. Paul Mitchell, R-Mich., leaves the Capitol after the House passed a fiscal 2018 budget resolution on October 26, 2017. (Photo By Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call)
The Michigan Congressman will be retiring at this session and told CNN that he is worried about Trump’s “long-term harm to our democracy.” (RELATED: ‘A New President And A Vaccine’: Pelosi Explains Why She Will Approve COVID-19 Relief Bill After Continued Delays)
Mitchell went on to say in his letter that it is “unacceptable for political candidates to treat our election system as though we are a third-world nation and incite distrust of something so basic as the sanctity of our vote.” (RELATED: Republican Rep Jeff Van Drew Defends New Jersey Second Congressional District Seat)
The Daily Caller contacted House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy’s office but did not immediately receive a response before publication time.