Jason Chaffetz Denies Scandal Speculation After Saying He May Leave Congress Early

function onPlayerReadyVidible(e){'undefined'!=typeof HPTrack&&HPTrack.Vid.Vidible_track(e)}!function(e,i){if(e.vdb_Player){if('object'==typeof commercial_video){var a='',o='m.fwsitesection='+commercial_video.site_and_category;if(a+=o,commercial_video['package']){var c='&m.fwkeyvalues=sponsorship%3D'+commercial_video['package'];a+=c}e.setAttribute('vdb_params',a)}i(e.vdb_Player)}else{var t=arguments.callee;setTimeout(function(){t(e,i)},0)}}(document.getElementById('vidible_1'),onPlayerReadyVidible); Rep.Jason Chaffetz (R-Utah) who stunningly announced this week that he wont seek re-election and may leave office before his term ends, strongly denied hes quitting because of some as-yet publicized scandal.Not in any way shape or form, Chaffetz, chair of the House Oversight Committee, said in an interview with Politico.Ive been given more enemas by more people over the last eight years than you can possibly imagine, he continued. From the Secret Service to the Democratic Party. I am who I am. If they had something really scandalous, it wouldve come out a long, long time ago.Chaffetz made theshock announcementthis week that he wontrun for re-election next year, or be a candidate for any office in 2018. In the days since, he said he may not even finish out his current term.If I do step down early, it will be months from now, Chaffetz told The Wall Street Journal. Its hard for people to believe, I really do want to be with my family more. Maybe its more a midlife crisis more than anything else.The announcement has prompted waves of speculation about Chaffetz future. Some have said he may be eyeing a bid for governor in 2020. Chaffetz told the Journal he was looking at the private sector.Utah election officials told Reuters they havent been formally told about any plans for Chaffetz to resign. Mark Thomas, the states director of elections, told Reuters officials have begun gathering information about when and how to hold a special election, but dont know what hes planning.This is more informal, just wanting to know ourselves and be prepared, Thomas said.Chaffetz has drawn fierce criticism from Democrats in recent months over claims hes beenslow to investigate President Donald Trumps ongoing and unfounded claims of voter fraud and wiretappingby former President Barack Obama. He also drew sharp rebukes from Republicans and constituents after saying in February he wouldnt look into ties between former Trump national security adviser Michael Flynn and the Russian ambassador ' a relationship that led to the Flynns firing.Its taking care of itself, Chaffetz said at the time. -- This feed and its contents are the property of The Huffington Post, and use is subject to our terms. It may be used for personal consumption, but may not be distributed on a website.
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