GOP congressman and Donald Trump defender Devin Nunes has formally resigned from Congress to be CEO of Trump’s new media and technology company.
Nunes submited a resignation letter that was read aloud on the House floor during a pro forma session on Monday. It is set to take effect at 11:59 p.m. today.
“The honorable, the speaker, House of Representatives, madam, I write to inform you that I have notified California Gov. Gavin Newsom of my resignation from the U.S. House of Representatives effective today at 11:59 p.m.” Nunes said in the letter.
He added: “It has been the honor of my life to represent the people of California’s San Joaquin Valley for the last 19 years.”
Nunes’s resignation was expected as he announced last month that he was leaving Congress to run Trump’s new company, the Trump Media & Technology Group. The company is advertising itself as an alternative to Big Tech.
Nunes announcement came as a shock to many. California’s redistricting process may have played a role in his decision to leave the House. According to sources familiar with his decision, he feared losing his reelection bid as a proposed map had him shifting from a fairly safe Republican-leaning district to one where Democrats have the advantage.
Rep. Debbie Dingell (D-Mich.), who was presiding over the House at the time, then announced that with Nunes’s resignation “the whole number of the House is 433.”
GOP Rep. Devin Nunes (R-CA) officially resigns from Congress to become CEO of former President Trump’s media company. pic.twitter.com/h45SjLxIu0
— The Recount (@therecount) January 3, 2022
The Chair announced that in light of the resignation of the gentleman from California, Rep. Nunes, the Whole Number of the House is 433.
— Republican Cloakroom (@RepCloakroom) January 3, 2022
