'I've had enough': Rep. Paul Mitchell of Michigan QUITS the Republican party over Trump's refusal to admit defeat and slams GOP for 'treating our election system as though we are a third-world nation'

 Michigan Rep. Paul Mitchell quit the Republican party on Monday and will become an independent because of President Donald Trump’s efforts to overturn the election results.

Mitchell, who voted for Trump in 2016 and in November, sent a letter to GOP leaders on Monday saying he’s withdrawing from the party over Trump’s election fraud claims and his inability to concede.

'It is unacceptable for political candidates to treat our election system as though we are a third- world nation and incite distrust of something so basic as the sanctity of our vote,' Mitchell wrote in his scalding letter to House Republican Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy and Republican National Committee Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel.  

Speaking on CNN about the explosive move on Monday night he said, 'This party has to stand for democracy first.'

Mitchell plans to retire from Congress at the end of his term next month. 

Retiring Rep. Paul Mitchell of Michigan quit the Republican party on Monday and will become an independent in disgust over President Donald Trump’s bid to overturn the election results. He said on CNN Monday night: 'I've had enough...This party has to stand for democracy first'

Retiring Rep. Paul Mitchell of Michigan quit the Republican party on Monday and will become an independent in disgust over President Donald Trump’s bid to overturn the election results. He said on CNN Monday night: 'I've had enough...This party has to stand for democracy first'

Trump and Mitchell pictured together above. Mitchell voted for Trump in 2016 and 2020 and says he agrees with 95 percent of his administration's work, but says his effort to overturn election results is unconstitutional

Trump and Mitchell pictured together above. Mitchell voted for Trump in 2016 and 2020 and says he agrees with 95 percent of his administration's work, but says his effort to overturn election results is unconstitutional

The 64-year-old revealed he's departing from the Republican party for its refusal to accept the election results.  

'I believe that any candidate has the ability to request a recount, to go through legal process if they think there’s some basis that the votes are not reasonable or concern about fraud. But we’ve gone through the process,' Mitchell said in an interview with CNN's Jake Tapper Monday night.

'It became clear to me that I could no longer be associated with the Republican Party, that leadership does not stand up and say the process, the election is over,' he added.


He pointed out that he voted for Trump in both elections and agreed with much of his agenda. 

'As I said in my letter I voted for Donald Trump. I supported the administration policy 95, 96 percent of the time the last two terms,' he said. 

'I’ve been active in the national and state party. But this party has to stand up for democracy first, for our Constitution first and not political considerations, not just a candidate, not simply for raw political power. And that’s what I feel is going on and I’ve had enough,' he added.

Mitchell wrote a letter to House Republican Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy and Republican National Committee Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel on Monday announcing his disaffiliation

Mitchell wrote a letter to House Republican Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy and Republican National Committee Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel on Monday announcing his disaffiliation 

'It is unacceptable for political candidates to treat our election system as though we are a third- world nation and incite distrust of something so basic as the sanctity of our vote,' Mitchell wrote

'It is unacceptable for political candidates to treat our election system as though we are a third- world nation and incite distrust of something so basic as the sanctity of our vote,' Mitchell wrote

Mitchell lashed out at his Republican peers calling their behavior in the election 'disgusting'. 

'This election simply confirms for me it's about power first and that, frankly, is disgusting and demoralizing,' Mitchell said.

'Losing is brutal, it's personal and it hurts. But if you're not willing to accept that, you should not be in political leadership,' he added. 

Mitchell called the slew of legal challenges to contest election results led by Trump allies as 'ridiculous' and expressed concern over the threats thrown at election officials who called the race for Biden.

'When you can’t conduct an election without threats of violence, we become a third world nation. What are we, Venezuela?' he said. 

He's now demanding accountability within his party.

'It's why I'm ending my tenure in Congress by speaking out, in this case, that our leadership owes us better than what we are seeing right now and until I see that, I'm going to be an independent because it's simply unacceptable,' he said. 

Mitchell announced he’s breaking away from the GOP on Monday, the same day that the Electoral College's results confirmed Joe Biden had indeed won the election.

Mitchell announced he’s breaking away from the GOP on Monday, the same day that the Electoral College's results confirmed Joe Biden had indeed won the election

Mitchell announced he’s breaking away from the GOP on Monday, the same day that the Electoral College's results confirmed Joe Biden had indeed won the election

Mitchell (above) is now the second Republican member of Michigan’s congress to leave the party. Michigan Rep. Justin Amash first left the GOP last summer and became a Libertarian.

Mitchell (above) is now the second Republican member of Michigan’s congress to leave the party. Michigan Rep. Justin Amash first left the GOP last summer and became a Libertarian.

Mitchell is now the second Republican member of Michigan’s congress to leave the party. Michigan Rep. Justin Amash first left the GOP last summer and became a Libertarian after he called for Trump's impeachment.

In Mitchell's letter he slammed his Republican colleagues for supporting harmful conspiracy theories surrounding the election. 

'Republican leaders collectively sit back and tolerate unfounded conspiracy theories and "stop the steal" rallies without speaking out for our electoral process, which the Department of Homeland Security said was "the most secure in American history," our nation will be damaged,' Mitchell wrote. 

'I have spoken out clearly and forcefully in opposition to these messages. However, with the leadership of the Republican Party and our Republican Conference in the House actively participating in at least some of those efforts, I fear long-term harm to our democracy,' he added.

Mitchell had previously voiced his disapproval of Trump after the racial violence in Charlottesville in 2017 and after he suggested Democratic lawmakers, including Rep. Ilhan Omar, an American citizen who came to the U.S. as a refugee from war-torn Somalia, should 'go back' to where they came from.

The Michigan lawmaker said in the Monday interview his son was adopted from Russia.

'It still enrages me,' Mitchell told CNN's Jake Tapper. 'Anybody who would tell him he's not a citizen, he doesn't have the same rights that you or I have, I'd have to tell you I'd knock them on their a**. That's not what our nation stands for.'

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