House Oversight Committee Chairman Trey Gowdy became the latest Republican to say he’s leaving politics. Cenk Uygur, the CEO of The Young Turks, called the recent trend “unprecedented.” "That means their poll numbers are disastrous. They think 2018 is going to be a landslide and a complete wipeout," Uygur told Cheddar. Gowdy, a Republican from South Carolina, said in a tweet Wednesday that he wouldn’t run for re-election in the 2018 midterms and would instead return to the justice system. His decision carries even more importance considering his position on the Oversight Committee, which has not yet completed its investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election. The previous Chair, Jason Chaffetz, stepped down in June. "It would be shocking if it was a coincidence that everybody in Oversight is now saying, ‘I gotta get the hell out of there,’" Uygur said. The loss of Gowdy comes as the GOP is increasingly at odds over how to work with the Trump administration. Some Republicans in Congress are trying to rein him in while others are standing behind him. Uygur speculates this sentiment has motivated Republicans to step down. For full interview, [click here](https://cheddar.com/videos/young-turks-founder-cenk-uygur-weighs-in-on-rep-trey-gowdys-retirement).

Share:
More In Politics
So Long, Penny! Trump Orders US to Ditch 1-cent Coin
President Donald Trump has ordered the U.S. to stop minting pennies. His surprise announcement comes after decades of unsuccessful efforts to phase out the 1-cent coin. Advocates for ditching the penny cite its high production cost and limited utility. Fans of the penny cite its usefulness in charity drives and relative bargain in production costs compared with the nickel. Here's a look at some question surrounding Trump's order.
Trump Administration Shutters Consumer Protection Agency
The Trump administration has ordered the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau to stop nearly all its work, effectively shutting down the agency that was created to protect consumers after the 2008 financial crisis and subprime mortgage-lending scandal. Russell Vought is the newly installed director of the Office of Management and Budget. Vought directed the CFPB in a Saturday night email to stop work on proposed rules, to suspend the effective dates on any rules that were finalized but not yet effective, and to stop investigative work and not begin any new investigations. The agency has been a target of conservatives since President Barack Obama created it following the 2007-2008 financial crisis.
Load More