Chaffetz considering early departure from Congress

[mahatmakanejeeves]

Source: KSL, via The Hill

Chaffetz considering early departure from Congress

By Cristina Marcos - 04/20/17 11:49 AM EDT

House Oversight Committee Chairman Jason Chaffetz (R-Utah), who stunned Washington with an announcement that he is not running for reelection, might not even finish his remaining term.

Chaffetz told KSL News Radios Doug Wright that he may not finish out his full term through 2018. But he said hes still debating the decision amid uncertainty over how Utah would establish a process to replace him early.

"I will continue to weigh the options, but I might depart early," Chaffetz told the Utah radio host on Thursday.

A Chaffetz spokeswoman didn't immediately return a request for comment.


Read more: http://thehill.com/homenews/house/329716-chaffetz-considering-early-departure-from-congress

---

I can't get this article at the KSL website. Here's a link to an earlier article: Utah Rep. Jason Chaffetz says he won't seek re-election but his plans remain unclear
http://www.ksl.com/?nid757&sid43923640

Hat tip, JoeMyGod: REPORT: Chaffetz May Not Finish Current Term
http://www.joemygod.com/2017/04/20/report-chaffetz-may-not-finish-current-term/

ETA:

Belated hat tip: This DUer posted before I did: Jason Chaffetz might not finish term?
https://www.democraticunderground.com/10028954350

[JustAnotherGen]

1. He's done something

Bad. That's the only explanation I can come up with.

[mahatmakanejeeves]

4. Caught in bed with either a dead girl or a live boy?

Don't hate; I didn't come up with that.

ETA: okay, here's the reference:

Before election day, Edwards joked with reporters: "The only way I can lose this election is if I'm caught in bed with either a dead girl or a live boy". Edwards zinged Treen many times, once describing Treen as "so slow it takes him an hour and a half to watch 60 Minutes."

Edwin Edwards - Wikipedia
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edwin_Edwards

[left-of-center2012]

12. I thought of that old expression too. LOL

[Justice]

18. We use this expression also; realized yesterday need an asterisk (or third option) for Bill O'Reilly

[JustAnotherGen]

24. Not at all

The 'gossip' side of the internet has him at multiple cheating partners on his wife.

Now I'm hearing Evan McMullin and Josh Romney are possibly on board for the next Senate race. So he (J.C.) can talk a good talk - but this guy is toast in his home state.

[StevieM]

43. I heard that he wants to run for governor. Whether he does depends on whether the rumors about

him are true.

Either way, he will go down in history as a notorious criminal. He worked with Comey to rig the 2016 election.

[JustAnotherGen]

48. What's odd

His old boss - who he had a bitter split with when he went for Romney back in the day . . .

Has been tapped for Ambassadorship to Russia.

This would be the third such appointment for Huntsman.

I can't read the 'tea leaves' on this one - but something be up!

[Dammit Jim]

44. Or another beaver

Which would be a dam shame.

[Wellstone ruled]

33. In Utah Politics there is a

constant. With the GOP in Utah,what is standard procedure is,when one of their Seated Members decides to give up a Seat,the Utah GOP will pick a replacement in a District Convention. This is how they have for forty years been able to control the political agenda within Utah.

But,it appears little Jason has his ass trapped in the Russia Gate that is about to go boom.

[Still In Wisconsin]

2. Guess who has got (Trump/Russia) shit on him? n/t

[WhiteTara]

9. Yes. I think that was a Louise Mensch tweet

a few days ago that something big was coming down on Chaffetz.

[calimary]

21. Saw that. And that speculation popped up elsewhere, too.

With this bunch, it's not implausible at all.

When I first heard he wasn't going to run for reelection, I couldn't help but think that, since Hillary isn't president, and all those big plans he had already drawn up for multiple new investigations and nonstop persecutions of her, maybe his heart just wasn't in it anymore. (Assuming, of course, that he even HAS a heart.) Maybe he felt the thrill was gone. Maybe he figured since he'd lost his favorite target-of-choice, it just wasn't gonna be any fun anymore. Besides, he'd just had that unexpectedly rough town hall meeting back home, with all those angry constituents who were giving him hell because he didn't share THEIR priorities about investigating trump on anything. Nobody giving him any attaboys for bearing down on her so hard, as I'm certain he was undoubtedly expecting.

I can't help but suspect that his balloon got so abruptly and shockingly deflated that he decided to say "fuck it." Couldn't keep on trying to screw her so he said "screw IT."

[WhiteTara]

26. You're thinking of him as a sentient being

when in truth he is a republicon and therefore has no human reasons...I'm sure it is that his con has run out and he hopes to hide from the fallout.

[madaboutharry]

3. Makes one think "Something is going on here..."

Chaffetz seems to have more problems than just sleeping on a cot in his office.

Being charitable, maybe someone is ill in his family and he doesn't want to say.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

8. If it were simple, he'd have explained. It's sudden, as he has no plans yet. . . . nt

[cstanleytech]

10. I doubt that it's because someone is ill, more likely he is eyeing a new job.

With whom? I have no idea but I have plenty of suspicions for what and why.

[gopiscrap]

20. He's going to become the spokesman for the Kremln

[50 Shades Of Blue]

5. Don't let the door hit ya!

[MurrayDelph]

36. I never believed in that expression

I think the door should hit him on the way out.

Considering where his head is, it might break his nose, though.

[50 Shades Of Blue]

46. LOL, now that you mention it...

[hibbing]

6. Well that's very odd n/t

[Blue Idaho]

7. The noose is tightening...

These rats are going to get caught up in the Russian quid pro quo - sooner rather than later.

[ancianita]

11. If his conscience hurts him for taking $95,000 from Big Med last year, that's good enough for me.

He's doing the right thing, no matter what the reason.

[Me.]

13. Looks Like Louise Mensch May've Been Right

[not fooled]

14. Whatever the (possibly sordid) reason Chaffedass is departing

One group that will rejoice are hapless Federal civil service workers who knew that this asshat was the point man for wrecking the civil service.

Will be interesting to see who the dumpsters insert next. Of course lil' Jared also has his "commission" or whateverthehell to "improve" (= wreck/profitize) the Federal government (I'm too uncaring to look it up).

A strong Civil Service is one of the bulwarks against a corrupt oligarchy.

[stonecutter357]

15. K&R!

?1490055477

[bucolic_frolic]

16. GOP had reached peak power as an opposition party

with no one to hate there is no reason for them to stay in office

[Justice]

17. @jasonoutofthehouse? Or is @Jasoninthedoghouse?

The way he makes his statements is remarkable - no optimism, no affect. Very lifeless.

I would bet on dog house.

[meow2u3]

34. @jasoninthedoghouse - ROFL!

@jasoninthedoghouse would make a great parody account!

[TheCowsCameHome]

19. Another "more time with the family" (R)?

[NastyRiffraff]

22. It IS odd

A guy like Chaffetz doesn't normally just up and quit. Something's going on. An innocent explanation would be family or health problems. But then why not just say so? A not-so-innocent explanation: something criminal.

[Mendocino]

23. Maybe a Ukranian gangster showed up

at his front door "Nize house you got, shame someting hoppen to it"

[NewRedDawn]

25. Kompromat by the Russkies

[B Stieg]

27. The CW in DC

says that everything Chaffitz is doing (such as trying to turn himself into an outsider by leaving DC) is in preparation for a run at the governorship in 2020.

But that's not to say he isn't on the Kremlin's payroll.
Just "follow the dachas!"

[lapucelle]

28. I'll miss his million dollar smile...

every tooth a buck.

I know that's mean, but it's not just his record that provides a "target rich environment".

https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/house-republicans-are-already-preparing-for-years-of-investigations-of-clinton/2016/10/26/e153a714-9ac3-11e6-9980-50913d68eacb_story.html?utm_term=.49cb1c374e33

[gordianot]

29. Has all of the indications he was visited and warned.

This is what happens when your enemies are bigger than you go away and be quiet.

[KPN]

30. Hmmm ... Russia connections?

[lapucelle]

31. Hey Jasoninthehouse, remember this?

Rep. Jason Chaffetz, the GOP chairman of the Oversight committee who spent years investigating Hillary Clinton's private email scandal, posted a photo of himself on Instagram shaking her hand as she passed by him at President Trump's inauguration Friday.

Chaffetz, who was ready to launch new investigations into Clinton's private email servers and other ethical conflicts had won the White House, signaled he has no plans to back off now that she's a private citizen.

"So pleased she is not the president," he said in the post. "I thanked her for her service and wished her luck. The investigation continues."

So pleased Jason will no longer be in Congress. The investigation continues.

[Dopers_Greed]

32. Is he moving to Russia?

Putin must have moved up his start date.

[mahatmakanejeeves]

35. From the Salt Lake Tribune:

Chaffetz acknowledges he may leave office before end of term

By MATT CANHAM | The Salt Lake Tribune connect

Last Updated Apr 20, 2017 11:39AM

Rep. Jason Chaffetz surprised many in Utah by saying he won't seek re-election in 2018. Now, he's going a step further, suggesting he won't serve out his term. ... "I might depart early," he told The Salt Lake Tribune early Thursday. "It very well might happen."

That would require the governor's office to call a special election, though how that would work is murky at this time.

A group of Republicans emerged as possible replacements for Chaffetz in the highly Republican 3rd Congressional District, including state Sen. Deidre Henderson, House Speaker Greg Hughes, state Rep. Dan McCay, former independent presidential candidate Evan McMullin, Provo Mayor John Curtis and lawyer Damian Kidd. On the Democratic side, Kathryn Allen, a first-time candidate, has raised $500,000 in a viral campaign.

The Tribune will update this story throughout the day.

[Sienna86]

37. Must see: Andrea Chalupa's twitter string on this

Mind-blowing thoughts.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

38. Louise Mensch six days ago tweeted Chaffetz is compromised for laundering Russian money

Apparently he also had an affair. It seems he may have been blackmailed into laundering and that general huge kompromat.

Link to tweet

Link to tweet

[dalton99a]

45. Makes sense.

[JustAnotherGen]

49. I'm on the affair thing right now

[Bernardo de La Paz]

39. Chaffetz has registered websites for 2028 Presidential run and 2020 Utah Governor run

Maybe he thinks his kompromat, his affair, his laundering, and his quitting term early will all blow over in time. He should not count on any of that being forgotten. Plus it is all likely to get worse before it gets better.

[mahatmakanejeeves]

40. How long ago? Wouldn't that have been done almost as a matter of course by his backers? NT

[Bernardo de La Paz]

41. A bit more than a week ago, yes by backers. Note too that websites are cheap, $15/yr or less

http://thehill.com/homenews/house/329597-chaffetzs-campaign-arm-registers-2028-websites

[grantcart]

50. The WP is supposing it is for ambition

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2017/04/19/why-is-jason-chaffetz-suddenly-retiring-from-congress-one-word-ambition/?utm_term=.c125cc4cdbd7

[not fooled]

51. Well, hey, look at

e.g. John "Keating Five" McCain, still doddering around the senate and selling out America for $$$ all these years later, after what should have been a career-ending scandal.

A boy can dream.

[jack69]

42. Something in the wind

Hope in the very near future will it be disclosed. Doesn't sound good.

[riversedge]

47. Tomorrow?? or another

rumor. Last one was spot on (that he would not seek re-election).

Link to tweet

[Calista241]

52. I bet his wife is banging the pool boy.

Maybe the mailman.

[Tiggeroshii]

53. I'm sensing this may become a trend.