Former Democrat Congressman Jeff Van Drew (NJ) has lost at least six of his staffers after it was reported he was considering joining the Republican Party in the midst of the House impeachment push against President Donald Trump.
In a letter to Van Drew’s chief of staff yesterday, five of his staffers wrote, “Sadly, Congressman Van Drew’s decision to join the ranks of the Republican Party led by Donald Trump does not align with the values we brought to this job when we joined this office.”
Another staffer, who did not sign on to the letter, has also reportedly resigned.
The congressman met with President Trump on Friday to discuss his potential party change and was one of two Democrats who voted against the impeachment inquiry.
Van Drew told USA Today last month that while he found President Trump’s actions “unsavory,” he opposed the impeachment inquiry because “impeachment is a very, very serious issue.”
President Trump reacted to the news of Van Drew’s impending party departure, tweeting yesterday, that he had “Always heard Jeff is very smart.”
Wow, that would be big. Always heard Jeff is very smart! https://t.co/7yDPU4N3wd
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 15, 2019
House Judiciary Chairman Jerrold Nadler (D-NY) also responded to Van Drew’s plans, telling ABC, “What he’s reacting to is public polling that shows he can’t get renominated. His electorate in his district is 24 percent to renominate him and 60 percent to nominate somebody else.”
Judiciary Committee ranking member Rep. Doug Collins (R-GA) also weighed in on Van Drew’s decision and wrote on Twitter, “Chairman Nadler told us to consult our consciences before voting on impeachment articles, then seemingly dismisses Jeff Van Drew for doing just that. When your own party rejects your sham impeachment, you’re probably on the wrong side of history.”
Chairman Nadler told us to consult our consciences before voting on impeachment articles, then seemingly dismisses Jeff Van Drew for doing just that.
When your own party rejects your sham impeachment, you’re probably on the wrong side of history. https://t.co/tuzf8beztQ
— Rep. Doug Collins (@RepDougCollins) December 15, 2019
Collins was referring to Nadler’s announcement last Thursday evening, when he delayed a committee vote on impeachment and urged his colleagues to “search their consciences” before casting their votes.
“It is now very late at night,” Nadler said. “I want the members on both sides of the aisle to think about what has happened over these last two days, and to search their consciences before we cast their final votes. Therefore, the committee will now stand in recess until tomorrow morning at 10 a.m., at which point I will move to divide the question so that each of us may have the opportunity to cast up-or-down votes on each of the articles of impeachment, and let history be our judge.”
On Friday, the Judiciary Committee voted on party lines to approve two articles of impeachment against President Trump.
