SALT LAKE CITY (AP) - The Latest on Utah congress members saying they’ll vote for Trump despite denouncing him previously (all times local):
2:10 p.m.
U.S. Rep. Chris Stewart says he’ll vote for Donald Trump, despite denouncing him previously for his lewd comments about women.
Fellow U.S. Rep. Jason Chaffetz also said this week he’ll vote for Trump. They both say their Trump voters are an attempt to prevent Democrat Hillary Clinton from winning.
Stewart’s office sent a video Thursday of the Republican congressman explaining his decision to the St. George News Wednesday night. Stewart says a vote for a third party candidate is the same as giving a vote for Clinton, who would clearly be worse for the country than Trump. Stewart declined further comment through a spokeswoman.
The new comments mark the latest shift by Stewart on Trump’s candidacy. Stewart called Trump “our Mussolini” earlier this year, but then signed a letter put out by the Utah Republican Party in August supporting Trump. Stewart then called on Trump to step aside after the 2005 tape came out of him making crude comments about women.
Stewart says he wanted Trump’s running mate Mike Pence to take over but since that didn’t happen, he’ll vote for Trump.
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8:58 a.m.
U.S. Rep. Jason Chaffetz says he’ll vote for Donald Trump, despite withdrawing his endorsement.
The Republican chairman of the House oversight committee said in a tweet on Wednesday he’d doing it because he believes Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton is bad for the country, but he won’t defend or endorse the Republican nominee.
A spokeswoman confirmed the tweet Thursday. Chaffetz says a third-party candidate wouldn’t have a serious chance of winning.
Chaffetz was among the first elected Republican officials to turn their backs on Trump after the release of a 2005 video of Trump bragging about trying to kiss and grope women.
Other Utah Republicans have either revoked their endorsement or called for Trump to step down, including Gov. Gary Herbert, U.S. Rep. Mia Love and U.S. Sen. Mike Lee.
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