Republican Virginia Rep. Thomas Garrett announced Monday he will not seek reelection after revealing he is battling alcoholism.
BREAKING: GOP Rep. Thomas Garrett announced Monday that he is an alcoholic and will not seek reelection for a second term in Congress.
Garrett is the 44th Republican to retire or announce they’ll not seek reelection to the House this year. https://t.co/Zro2BeYz2U
— TheResistance Report (@AntiTrumpReport) May 28, 2018
The announcement was made during a recorded video at the state Capitol in Richmond.
In the video Garrett said, “Any person — Republican, Democrat or Independent — who’s known me for any period of time and has any integrity, knows two things: I am a good man and I am an alcoholic.”
He added, “This is the hardest statement that I have ever publicly made, by far.”
Garrett was running against Democrat Leslie Cockburn in Virginia’s fifth district. Cockburn was a producer for CBS News’ 60 Minutes and a reporter for Vanity Fair. She has previously said that her dislike of the president swayed her to run for office.
My opponent Tom Garrett has announced that he is not seeking reelection. This must be a very difficult time for him, his family and staff. It is important that he has recognized his alcohol addiction and I wish him well.
— Leslie Cockburn (@LeslieCockburn) May 28, 2018
Recent allegations surfaced of Congressman Garrett’s inappropriate treatment of aides, asking them to do things like pick up his groceries and clean up his after his dog.
The Republican Party will announce a replacement candidate in the next couple of days.