RUFUS - House Speaker Gretchen LeWolf made a surprise announcement just a week after her announcement that she would step down as Speaker. This morning, she announced that she would not seek reelection to her House seat, a change of course she made, stating that she would seek reelection to her House seat.
The announcement is being questioned, as her money laundering trial is set to enter its second week on Monday. Many think that she is in serious trouble, and that the court has found severely clear evidence that she used her Finance company to launder money, and that the announcement comes before she is set to receive any type of formal sentence.
"I am honestly not surprised at all that she announced she wouldn't seek reelection," said Representative Braden Harris. "Her abrupt announcement of her departure from the Speaker's chair really should have been a sign that trouble was brewing in court. She had fought calls to resign for the better part of a few weeks, and survived two motions to vacate. So her career in the Speaker's office looked pretty good until she announced she was stepping down on December 14."
House Speaker Gretchen LeWolf issued the following statement on the Speaker's website, moments ago. The statement eludes to her departure from Congress at the end of her current term.
"Today I have made the hardest decision of my career, and one I hope no other member will never have to make again. But effective today, December 21, 2024, I will suspend my reelection campaign as the Representative for New Shire's 1st District," Speaker Gretchen LeWolf's statement said. "I am dropping out of this race and will leave Congress at the end of my term in 2025. I hope and pray that whoever is my successor, can represent this great Congressional district. It has been a busy couple of weeks and I will ensure that this district is left in good hands. I feel that my legal troubles are causing too many problems for not only the chair of House Speaker but for my chair in the House. I have already submitted by order of withdrawal to the Federal Board Of Elections and my name will be removed from the ballots following their hearing."
There is still no word as to whether she has been found liable for any of the charges, and the courts have yet to hear evidence from the defense, related to her business. It is likely that those results won't come out until after the new year and even then, it isn't likely we'll see any charges be listed off until next year. Investigations are still ongoing, and Speaker LeWolf will still face her Senate Judiciary Committee to answer questions related to the allegations leveled against her.