U.S. Senator Mike Crapo of Idaho says he will now vote for GOP nominee Donald Trump after rescinding his endorsement earlier this month due to the 2005 leaked tape of Trump making lewd comment.
“The choice we still have today and the choice we will have is between Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton,” Crapo said in a statement released on Monday.
“We cannot elect Hillary Clinton for many reasons. Given the choice, I will vote for the Republican ticket — Trump and Pence.”
Crapo rescinded his support for the GOP nominee, whom he endorsed in May due to Trump’s illegal immigration plan for a “strong and aggressive protection of the border.” In light of the Washington Post releasing the leaked hot mic tap, over two dozen of Crapo’s House and Senate colleagues such as Sen. Mike Lee of Utah, Sen. John McCain of Arizona, and Rep. Mike Simpson of Idaho announced they no longer could endorse the GOP nominee with Crapo calling for Trump to “step aside” for VP candidate Mike Pence to “take his place” as the top of the ticket candidate.
“I can no longer endorse Donald Trump,” Crapo stated, in a statement written a day after the leaked tape was released. “This is not a decision that I have reached lightly, but his pattern of behavior has left me no choice. His repeated actions and comments toward women have been disrespected, profane and demeaning.”
Crapo continued, “I urge Donald Trump to step aside and allow the Republican Party to put forward a conservative candidate like Mike Pence who can defeat Hillary Clinton.”
The change of reversal from Crapo just two weeks before election day was in part of his concern regarding the appointment of a Conservative Supreme Court justice “who will interpret the Constitution as written,” as well as a president who will help lead a stronger free market and a more limited government.
“We must elect a president who will appoint strong Supreme Court justices who will interpret the Constitution as it was written and who will help lead us to a stronger free market and a more limited government,” Crapo wrote. “In that context, I don’t think the choice is that hard when we realize the decision this country must make.”
Crapo isn’t the only Republican who reversed their support to re-endorse Trump. After the second presidential debate, Nebraska Senator Deb Fischer and South Dakota Senator John Thune also reversed their decisions in support of the Republican ticket.
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