GOP/HOUSE OF REPS/POLITICAL FIGURES: “House Oversight Committee Chairman Trey Gowdy said Wednesday [1-31-18] that he will leave Congress after this year, the latest House Republican to resign or announce he won’t stand for re-election.
Mr. Gowdy (R., S.C.) is the second Oversight Committee chairman to quit in the past seven months. The post, one of the most powerful in Congress, allows for investigations into any aspect of the federal government. Mr. Gowdy became chairman in June when his predecessor, Rep. Jason Chaffetz of Utah, quit Congress to pursue a career as a television commentator.
About 40 House Republicans have resigned or said they won’t seek re-election in the past year. Including Mr. Chaffetz, Mr. Gowdy is the 10th House GOP committee chairman to resign or announce they will leave Congress in the last year. Reasons for their departures vary, but include being term-limited out of their chairmanship, facing competitive challenges from Democrats for the first time in decades and seeking statewide office.”
-Reid J. Epstein, “Republican Rep. Trey Gowdy to Leave Congress at End of Term,” The Wall Street Journal online, Jan. 31, 2018 04:04pm