Indicted GOP congressman Chris Collins' terminates re-election campaign

Collins was indicted, alongside his son and one other, on the accusation that he passed on insider trading information relating to Australian biotech Innate Therapeutics to family members in order to profit and avoid losses through illicit trade in 2017.  

He released a statement on Saturday morning detailing the decision, a stark reversal from his commitment earlier in the week to remain on the ballot and fight to prove his innocence. The full statement read:

"Democrats are laser focused on taking back the House, electing Nancy Pelosi Speaker and then launching into impeachment proceedings against President Trump. They would like nothing more than to elect an ‘Impeach Trump’ Democrat in this District, which is something that neither our country or my party can afford.

"After extensive discussions with my family and my friends over the last few days, I have decided that it is in the best interests of the constituents of NY-27, the Republican Party and President Trump’s agenda for me to suspend my campaign for re-election to Congress.

"I will fill out the remaining few months of my term to assure that our community maintains its vote in Congress to support President Trump’s agenda to create jobs, eliminate regulations, reduce the size of government, address immigration and lower taxes.

"I will also continue to fight the meritless charges brought against me and I look forward to having my good name cleared of any wrongdoing."

Democratic House minority leader Pelosi responded with a statement that argued that Collin’s move "does little to drain the toxic cesspool of self-enrichment, special interest deals and corruption that has proliferated in Washington under GOP control," adding: "Speaker Ryan must call on congressman Collins to resign. No person is above the law, not the president or his first supporter in Congress."

It is unknown whether Collins’ name can be removed from the ballot at this stage, or if the Republican Party can nominate another candidate for his seat.

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