Rep. Paul Mitchell (R-Mich.) says he can no longer be associated with the Republican Party due to President Donald Trump’s efforts to overturn the results of the election, and party leaders’ silence.
During an interview on CNN’s “The Lead” on Monday, Mitchell revealed that he is leaving the Republican Party because of the leadership’s refusal to publicly rebuff Trump’s claims about the election.
“It became clear to me that I could no longer be associated with a Republican party that leadership does not stand up and say the process, the election, is over. It’s over today,” Mitchell said.
He continued, “And then I saw the president tweet out that it’s not over till January 20. Somehow he’s going to continue to combat this. The people have voted. As I said in my letter, I voted for Donald Trump.”
Watch the video below:
Retiring MI @RepPaulMitchell, who voted for Trump, announces he is leaving the GOP and becoming an Independent:
— The Recount (@therecount) December 14, 2020
“I could no longer be associated with a Republican party that leadership does not stand up and say the process, the election, is over. It's over today.” pic.twitter.com/Ym6rvaA71a
In a letter announcing his decision to disaffiliating with the party, Mitchell cited his voting record in Congress and support for the party.
He added that he agrees “that there have been some disconcerting aspects to this election.”
“With more than 155 million people voting, both administrative errors and even some fraudulent voting likely occurred. Steps must be taken, by each state, to audit results, validate ballots, and process and report findings to ensure that every legal vote counts.”
However, he said that errors or fraud were not the reason for Trump’s loss. While he noted that “any candidate” is “entitled to request recounts and pursue legal challenge,” Trump’s efforts to contest the results have failed.
“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,” he said.
Read the letter below:
Today I am disaffiliating from the Republican Party.
— Paul Mitchell (@RepPaulMitchell) December 14, 2020
See my letter below: pic.twitter.com/76IxC4FMvJ
As he cited the reluctance by Republican leaders to speak out about Trump’s false claims, Mitchell noted that he has been vocal about the president’s claims.
He went on, “However, with the leadership of the Republican Party and our Republican Conference in the House actively participating in at least some of those efforts, I fear long-term harm to our democracy.”
“As elected members of Congress, we take an oath to ‘support and defend the Constitution of the United States,’ not to preserve and protect the political interests of any individual, be it the president or anyone else, to the detriment of our cherished nation.”
Finally, he said, “As a result, I am writing to advise you both that I am withdrawing from my engagement and association with the Republican Party at both the national and state level.”
Mitchell did not run for reelection this year and is in the final days of his time in Congress, but he has been an outspoken critic of Trump’s actions since the election.