May 28, 2018 - Politics & Policy

Republican congressman will quit Congress: "I am an alcoholic"

Rep. Tom Garrett attends a House Foreign Affairs Committee markup in Rayburn Building on May 17, 2018. Photo: Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call

Rep. Tom Garrett of Virginia announced Monday that he is an alcoholic and won't run for re-election, just days after a Politico report on his treatment of staff. In a statement, the Virginia Republican denied the staff treatment allegations.

Why it matters: Garrett's exit from the race moves his district from a "Likely R to Leans R," tweeted election analyst Kyle Konkik.

“The recent attacks on my family are a series of half-truths and whole lies... But there’s one area where I haven’t been honest: The tragedy is that any person Republican, Democrat or independent who’s known me for period of time and has any integrity knows two things: I am a good man and I am an alcoholic.“

— Garrett

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