Less than three weeks after withdrawing his endorsement for he GOP presidential nominee, Rep. Jason Chaffetz announced Wednesday that he’s once again planning to vote for Donald Trump.
The Utah Republican who serves as chairman of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee announced his renewed support for Mr. Trump on Twitter, saying he had no choice but to oppose Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton, whom he referred to by her initials, HRC.
“I will not defend or endorse @realDonaldTrump, but I am voting for him. HRC is that bad. HRC is bad for the USA,” tweeted Mr. Chaffetz.
His change of heart followed Mr. Trump’s running mate, Indiana Gov. Mike Pence, visiting Utah to shore up conservative support in the longtime red state that has suddenly become a toss-up.
Mr. Chaffetz was among a slew of Republican leaders who withdrew support form Mr. Trump after a 2005 video tape surfaced in which Mr. Trump was caught on a hot microphone making lewd remarks about women, including boasting that his celebrity status allowed him to kiss and fondle women he met casually.
At the time, that was too much for Mr. Chaffetz.
“I’m out,” he said Oct. 7 to Fox 13 in Salt Lake City, Utah. “I can no longer in good conscience endorse this person for president. It is some of the most abhorrent and offensive comments that you can possibly imagine.”
The threat of losing Utah, where native Evan McMullin’s independent run as a conservative for president has gained traction, has added a frustrating distraction to Mr. Trump’s campaign with 12 days until the Nov. 8 election.
• S.A. Miller can be reached at smiller@washingtontimes.com.
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