Chaffetz Denies Reports He’ll Immediately Step Down

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By Juliegrace Brufke

House Oversight Chairman Jason Chaffetz has confirmed while he plans to step down from his Utah congressional seat before his term is up, rumors he plans to resign Friday are false. 

Multiple outlets have reported he could be departing by the end of the week, following the congressman’s Wednesday announcement he would not seek re-election in 2018.

“Nope. Not true,” he told The Daily Caller News Foundation in an email Thursday.

Chaffetz announced Wednesday he had no plans to run for office in 2018 and plans to re-enter the private sector and spend more time with his family. He confirmed Thursday he was considering leaving his role before his term was up, telling KSL radio the state needs to figure out a viable candidate to fill his seat if he chooses to exit before midterm elections are held.

“I will continue to weigh the options but I might depart early,” he told host Doug Wright.

The congressman asserted he was not leaving office due to any sort of scandal.

“For those that would speculate otherwise, let me be clear that I have no ulterior motives. I am healthy, I am confident I would continue to be re-elected by large margins,” he told KSL. “I have the full support of Speaker Ryan to continue as Chairman of the Oversight and Government Reform Committee. That said, I have made a personal decision to return to the private sector.”

Chaffetz, who was first elected in 2008 and quickly rose to prominence in the Republican party, has previously expressed interest in running for governor of the Beehive State.

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