GOP Rep. Devin Nunes Retires From Congress To Become Trump Media Group CEO

Rep. Devin Nunes (R-California) has officially resigned from Congress. Nunes served in the House of Representatives for almost 20 years, having begun representing California in 2003.

Nunes was a close ally of former President Donald Trump. He announced in December that he would leave Congress at the end of 2021. After his career as a legislator, he will become CEO of the Trump Media & Technology Group.

The corporation is Trump’s answer to social media platforms banning conservatives who violate the platforms’ policies, such as policies against misinformation and hate speech. Last year, Trump was permanently banned from Twitter and several other platforms following his encouragement of the violent insurrection on the U.S. Capitol. When this occurred, Trump announced that he would found his own media company.

“I was presented with a new opportunity to fight for the most important issues I believe in,” wrote Nunes in a letter published in December, when he announced his impending departure. “I’m writing to let you know I’ve decided to pursue this opportunity, and therefore I will be leaving the House of Representatives at the end of 2021.”

His resignation was effective Jan. 1, 2022. It arrived as the tense midterm elections will soon begin. In his home of California, its newly-redistricted set of maps show that the fight will be slightly harder for Republicans to win in some areas of the state.

Nunes was the chairman of the House Intelligence Committee during a Republican majority. In this position, he led Trump-affiliated efforts to discredit Special Counsel Robert Mueller‘s probe and the FBI’s investigation against Trump’s alleged collusion with Russia. This role significantly raised Nunes’s popularity among Trump’s supporters.

Nunes was also outspoken in his defense of Trump during the former president’s first impeachment. While president, Trump then awarded Nunes the Medal of Freedom in 2021.

Last week, House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-California) announced Nunes’s replacement in the top GOP spot on the Intelligence Committee. McCarthy he has appointed Rep. Mike Turner (R-Ohio) to fill the position.

Article by Camryn Bolkin