Jason Chaffetz Resigning From Congress

The Utah Republican had previously said he wouldn't run for any office in 2018.
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Rep. Jason Chaffetz (R-Utah) will step down from Congress later this year, Politico reported Thursday. Chaffetz, whose term was set to last until 2019, confirmed the news in a letter to constituents, saying his last day will be June 30.

The news comes less than a month after Chaffetz, the chairman of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, announced he would not seek re-election or “be a candidate for any office in 2018.” He also hinted in an interview with Utah’s KSL Newsradio that he was considering leaving before the end of his term.

While he left open the possibility of running for governor of Utah in 2020, Chaffetz said he wants to spend more time with his family. Sources told Politico that he is considering joining Fox News.

In his role as House Oversight chair, Chaffetz has been near the epicenter of many of the issues surrounding President Donald Trump’s administration. Chaffetz was often criticized for being slow to investigate allegations against the president, including questions about his campaign’s ties to Russia and conflicts of interests related to Trump’s businesses.

It’s unclear how Chaffetz’s departure may affect the investigations into the Trump campaign. Some of the leading contenders to replace Chaffetz as House Oversight chair are former Freedom Caucus Chairman Jim Jordan (R-Ohio), Rep. Jimmy Duncan (R-Tenn.) and Rep. Mike Turner (R-Ohio).

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