Trump celebrates the retirement of pro-impeachment Republican Rep. Fred Upton: '4 down and 6 to go'
"Even the best stories has a last chapter. This is it for me," the Republican congressman said in an emotional floor speech on Tuesday morning.
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- Long-time GOP Rep. Fred Upton of Michigan, who voted to impeach Trump after Jan 6, is retiring.
- "UPTON QUITS! 4 down and 6 to go. Others losing badly, who's next?" Trump said in a statement.
- Most House Republicans who voted to impeach Trump are either retiring or in serious political peril.
Long-time Republican Rep. Fred Upton of Michigan announced his retirement on Tuesday, and former President Donald Trump found immediate reason to celebrate.
"UPTON QUITS! 4 down and 6 to go. Others losing badly, who's next?," Trump said in a brief statement released on Tuesday morning.
Upton made his retirement announcement during an emotional speech on the House floor. Upton was facing a competitive primary challenge from Trump-endorsed Republican Rep. Bill Huizenga.
"Hopefully, civility and bipartisanship versus discord can rule, not rue, the day," said Upton. "Even the best stories has a last chapter. This is it for me."
—CSPAN (@cspan) April 5, 2022
Upton was one of 10 House Republicans who voted to impeach Trump following the January 6 attack on the US Capitol.
"Today the President characterized his inflammatory rhetoric at last Wednesday's rally as 'totally appropriate,' and he expressed no regrets for last week's violent insurrection at the US Capitol," the Michigan Republican said in a statement at the time. "The Congress must hold President Trump to account and send a clear message that our country cannot and will not tolerate any effort by any President to impede the peaceful transfer of power from one President to the next."
Of those original 10, four have now announced their retirement, including Upton and Reps. Adam Kinzinger of Illinois, Anthony Gonzalez of Ohio, and John Katko of New York.
"Great news, another one bites the dust," said Trump in a statement when Katko announced his retirement in January.
Other Republicans who voted to impeach Trump, including Reps. Liz Cheney of Wyoming and Tom Rice 0f South Carolina, face stiff primary challenges from Trump-backed Republicans.
Upton was also one of the 13 Republicans who voted for a bipartisan infrastructure bill that Biden signed into law in November, which led Trump to criticize the congressman by name alongside several others.
The Michigan Republican later reported receiving death threats as the result of his infrastructure vote.