Rep. Matt Rosendale (R-MT) announced his decision to not seek re-election on Friday, citing the strain a spate of unverified rumors caused to himself and his family.
Allegations came out last month that suggested Rosendale had an affair with a 20-year-old staffer.
Former Sen. Heidi Heitkamp (D-ND) fanned the fire by claiming that Rosendale had impregnated a staffer who is 43 years his junior and had dropped out of the Senate race.
Last week, his wife, Jean Rosendale, said she is standing by her husband despite the accusations, which she dubbed “political mudslinging.”
Rosendale’s office vehemently refuted Heitkamp’s assertions, denouncing them as “100% false and defamatory” and indicating their intention to take legal action against her.
His choice to forego re-election follows his withdrawal from the U.S. Senate race shortly after entering, prompted by former President Donald Trump’s endorsement of his primary opponent.
“At the onset of this election season, at the urging of many, I announced my candidacy for the U.S. Senate,” Rosendale remarked.
“It became very obvious soon after that announcement that the national support and resources necessary to win that seat were not going to be available to me.”
The congressman said he rapidly withdrew from the race to avoid jeopardizing the GOP’s chance to win a Senate seat, which will help Republicans achieve the majority, “which is critical for our country.”
Rosendale said he was urged to run for reelection in his his current seat, but circumstances have made it “impossible” for him to focus on his work and serve the people.
“Since that announcement, I have been forced to have law enforcement visit my children because of a death threat against me and false and defamatory rumors against me and my family,” he explained.
“This has taken a serious toll on me, and my family. Additionally, it has caused a serious disruption to the election of the next representative for MT-02.”
If a RINO wont be missed
Can’t any of these bums keep his pants on?
If he’s innocent, why drop out.