Apr 6, 2018 - Politics & Policy

Trey Gowdy says being in Congress was largely a waste of time

Trey Gowdy walks down a flight of stairs

Photo: Brendan / AFP via Getty Images

South Carolina Republican Trey Gowdy, who is retiring from Congress this year, told Vice News' Michael C. Moynihan that he felt being in Congress was largely a waste of time, as it was bogged down by "ineffectiveness." And asked what he makes of the Republican party in 2018, he said "the goal is to win" — that's it.

Why it matters: 37 House Republicans have said they're not running for re-election this year, upping the odds Democrats retake the House.

Sound bites:

  • "We've convinced ourselves that we have to because the country will go to Hades in a hand basket if my team doesn't win," Gowdy said.
  • "To the extent men judge themselves based on what they do for a living, I don't have a lot to show for the last seven years."

The interview starts at 1:45

Go deeper