Republican Congressman Leaves Politics After Vicious Senate Primary Led to ‘Death Threats’

AP Photo/Matthew Brown

Rep. Matt Rosendale (R-MT) announced on Friday he will not seek reelection after a dramatic bid for U.S. Senate in Montana resulted in a “death threat against” him, as well as “false and defamatory rumors against me and my family.”

Rosendale, a member of the House Freedom Caucus, briefly joined the GOP primary to run against Sen. John Tester (D-MT) in November. He quickly quit after Donald Trump and the National Republican Senatorial Committee endorsed his opponent – ex-Navy SEAL and aerospace millionaire Tim Sheehy.

Rosendale came under harsh criticism from many on the right, including Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) who blasted him online as a “grifter.” She wrote in January:

I’m just fed up with back stabbers, liars, and grifters.

Matt Rosendale can not be trusted. He turned his back on Pres Trump and only endorsed him recently because Rosendale is planning to run for Senate AGAIN after already losing last time in the Senate race against John Tester.

I have the same conservative voting record as Matt Rosendale but he’s a grifter. He’s not loyal to the people who have supported him like Pres Trump. He walks around with a military style buzz cut just like John Tester to fool veterans but Rosendale and Tester never even served in the military, unlike Tim Sheehy who was a Navy Seal.

Rosendale announced he was leaving politics in a statement that said, “Upon withdrawing from that race, and again at the urging of many, including several of the current candidates, I filed to run for reelection to my current seat.”

“Since that announcement, I have been forced to have law enforcement visit my children because of a death threat against me and false and defamatory rumors against me and my family. This has taken a serious toll on me, and my family,” he added, concluding:

Additionally, it has caused a serious disruption to the election of the next representative for MT-02. To me, public service has truly always been about serving, not titles or positions of power. The current attacks have made it impossible for me to focus on my work to serve you. So, in the best interest of my family and the community, I am withdrawing from the House race and will not be seeking office. It has been my honor to serve you and may god bless each and every one of you.