Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA)‚ who chairs the House Energy and Commerce Committee‚ announced Thursday she won’t seek reelection. “It’s been the honor and privilege of my life to represent the people of Eastern Washington in Congress. They inspire me every day. They are part of the strength and soul of America – the greatest experiment in self-governance the world has ever known‚” Rodgers said. “After much prayer and reflection‚ I’ve decided the time has come to serve them in new ways. I will not be running for re-election to the People’s House‚” she added. Read the full statement: New: Washington GOP Congresswoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers has announced she won't run for re-election in Washington's 5th Congressional District in 2024. pic.twitter.com/G2evIttSyJ — The Calvin Coolidge Project (@TheCalvinCooli1) February 8‚ 2024 The Hill reports: The Washington Republican‚ who was elected to the House in 2004‚ is the first female lawmaker to chair the Energy and Commerce Committee. She currently serves the 5th Congressional District of Washington‚ which includes Spokane. “Especially as Chair of the Energy and Commerce Committee‚ I’ve seen the best of Eastern Washington and the United States of America‚” her statement continued. “We will spend this year honoring the Committee’s rich history — plowing the hard ground necessary to legislate on solutions to make people’s lives better and ensure America wins the future.” The Washington lawmaker won the race to become the top Republican on the Energy and Commerce Committee in 2020 after being appointed to the committee in 2010. She took over leadership of the committee at the start of 2023 when Republicans took over the House majority. She did not face a term limit next year and could have sought to serve as chair‚ assuming the GOP retained the majority‚ in the next Congress. GOP Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers will not seek reelection in 2024 | Just The News https://t.co/1sFpzcGCh8 — John Solomon (@jsolomonReports) February 8‚ 2024 The first female lawmaker to chair the Energy and Commerce Committee‚ Cathy McMorris Rodgers‚ announced she will not run for reelection. https://t.co/LCdKbTNLr2 pic.twitter.com/7VP1u6crql — The Hill (@thehill) February 8‚ 2024 From Axios: McMorris Rodgers marks more than a dozen House Republicans who said they are retiring without immediate plans to seek higher office. That includes nearly a half dozen‚ including senior members of powerful committees‚ who have made their announcements in the last two months. Financial Services Committee Chair Patrick McHenry (R-N.C.) and Appropriations Committee Chair Kay Granger (R-Texas) have also said they won’t run again. On the Energy and Commerce Committee alone‚ Republicans are losing a huge swath of members. Reps. Michael Burgess (R-Texas) – the second most senior member – Larry Bucshon (R-Ind.)‚ Jeff Duncan (R-S.C.)‚ John Curtis (R-Utah)‚ Greg Pence (R-Ind.) and Kelly Armstrong (R-N.D.) are all retiring. Another member of the panel‚ Rep. Bill Johnson (R-Ohio)‚ also resigned last month to become president of Youngstown State University.

After a lengthy investigation into Joe Biden improperly retaining classified documents pertaining to national security‚ Department of Justice Special Counsel Robert Hur said he will not bring criminal charges. Attorney General Merrick Garland appointed Hur last year after Biden’s lawyers informed the federal government he was in possession of classified documents from his time as vice president. According to the report‚ Biden “willfully retained and disclosed classified materials after his vice presidency when he was a private citizen.” “He knew he kept classified information in notebooks stored in his house and he knew he was not allowed to do so‚” Hur wrote. Yet‚ Hur won’t bring criminal charges against Biden. However‚ the special counsel’s reasons for not bringing charges won’t bode well for the White House resident. Hur cited Biden’s advanced age and poor memory as reasons not to charge him. “We have also considered that‚ at trial‚ Mr. Biden would likely present himself to a jury‚ as he did during our interview of him‚ as a sympathetic‚ well-meaning‚ elderly man with a poor memory‚” the report read. BREAKING: Special counsel says Biden came across to investigators as 'well-meaning‚ elderly man with a poor memory.' – AP pic.twitter.com/fTXg5niLHL — Insider Paper (@TheInsiderPaper) February 8‚ 2024 According to the 388-page report‚ Biden “did not remember when he was vice president.” It said Biden’s memory also appeared to have “significant limitations.” JUST IN: The special counsel in the Biden classified document case says that Biden has “significant memory issues” "He did not remember when he was vice president. He did not remember‚ even within several years‚ when his son Beau died" Are you freaking kidding me? What the… pic.twitter.com/Cum60onyp7 — Nick Sortor (@nicksortor) February 8‚ 2024 CNBC reports: “We conclude that no criminal charges are warranted in this matter‚” the report said. “We reach the same conclusion even if Department of Justice policy did not foreclose criminal charges against a sitting president.” The special counsel said that Biden had shared some classified information with his ghostwriter for his second memoir‚ “Promise Me‚ Dad‚” published in 2017‚ which Hur said did not appear to contain any classified information. The report also said there was no evidence that Biden shared classified material with foreign nationals. Hur was blunt in detailing lapses in Biden’s memory when he was interviewed for the probe. “In his interview with our office‚ Mr. Biden’s memory was worse‚” Hurg wrote. “He did not remember when he was vice president‚ forgetting on the first day of the interview when his term ended (‘if it was 2013 – when did I stop being Vice President?’)‚ and forgetting on the second day of the interview when his term began (‘in 2009‚ am I still Vice President?’)‚” the report said. “He did not remember‚ even within several years‚ when his son Beau died. And his memory appeared hazy when describing the Afghanistan debate that was once so important to him‚” Hur wrote. ‘Elderly Man with a Poor Memory’: Devastating DOJ Report Says Biden 'Did Not Remember When He Was Vice President' and 'When His Son Died' https://t.co/EHnEhGmSSA — Mediaite (@Mediaite) February 8‚ 2024 HOLY HELL! SPECIAL COUNSEL: “At some point after learning of Special Counsel Hur's appointment‚ Mr. Biden's ghostwriter‚ Mark Zwonitzer‚ deleted digital audio recordings of his conversations with Mr. Biden during the writing of the book‚ Promise Me‚ Dad‚ The recordings had… pic.twitter.com/FWPT4dsFjE — Breaking911 (@Breaking911) February 8‚ 2024 From Business Insider: In Hur’s yearlong investigation‚ his team found several classified documents improperly stored outside the White House stemming from Biden’s time in the Senate and vice presidency. And while Biden’s likely 2024 presidential challenger‚ former President Donald Trump‚ was charged with 37 felony counts in 2023 for similarly holding onto documents‚ Hur’s report cited several reasons not to charge the sitting president‚ such as his age and declining memory. “We have also considered that‚ at trial‚ Mr. Biden would likely present himself to a jury‚ as he did during our interview of him‚ as a sympathetic‚ well-meaning‚ elderly man with a poor memory‚” the report said‚ noting potential jurors would likely want to give him the benefit of the doubt. “It would be difficult to convince a jury that they should convict him — by then a former president well into his eighties — of a serious felony that requires a mental state of willfulness.” Responding to the report‚ White House counsel Richard Sauber emphasized the fact that charges weren’t recommended. “We disagree with a number of inaccurate and inappropriate comments in the Special Counsel’s report‚” Sauber said. “Nonetheless‚ the most important decision the Special Counsel made—that no charges are warranted—is firmly based on the facts and evidence.” After the report‚ calls have begun to invoke the 25th Amendment: So the Special Counsel report won't trigger charges on Biden‚ but it might trigger the 25th Amendment! — Jack Poso (@JackPosobiec) February 8‚ 2024 A day the left hoped would result in Trump being removed from the ballot via the 14th Amendment‚ might end up with Biden being removed from the White House via the 25th Amendment. Irony! — Charlie Kirk (@charliekirk11) February 8‚ 2024 Joe Biden: Too old and feeble to be prosecuted for his criminal activity with classified documents. Not too old and feeble to be president. If he is too old and feeble for court he is too old and feeble to be president. Trigger the 25th Amendment. pic.twitter.com/ijDUIJG68z — Carmine Sabia (@CarmineSabia) February 8‚ 2024 In essence‚ the special counsel presents evidence that Biden should be removed under the 25th amendment https://t.co/VeQOnfoMOH — Mark R. Levin (@marklevinshow) February 8‚ 2024 25TH AMENDMENT. NOW!!! https://t.co/QdZEZrT8Vh — Graham Allen (@GrahamAllen_1) February 8‚ 2024 Read the full report HERE.

Special Counsel Robert Hur wrapped his investigation into Joe Biden Thursday‚ confirming the President “willfully” disclosed classified material‚ but said no charges were warranted. WASHINGTON (AP) — Special counsel says Biden came across to investigators as 'well-meaning‚ elderly man with a poor memory.'— Seung Min Kim (@seungminkim) February 8‚ 2024 BREAKING: Special counsel says President Joe Biden "willfully" disclosed classified materials as a private citizen‚ but no criminal charges are warranted. https://t.co/E9dVSfRP1b— The Associated Press (@AP) February 8‚ 2024 BREAKING: Read special counsel Robert Hur's report on President Biden's handling of classified documents: https://t.co/6jjALSyHl0— Steven Nelson (@stevennelson10) February 8‚ 2024 From the Associated Press: President Joe Biden “willfully” retained and disclosed highly classified materials when he was a private citizen‚ including documents about military and foreign policy in Afghanistan and other sensitive national security matters‚ according to a Justice Department report that nonetheless says no criminal charges are warranted for him or anyone else. The report from special counsel Robert Hur‚ released Thursday‚ represents a harshly critical assessment of Biden’s handling of sensitive government materials‚ but also details the reasons why he should not be charged with the crime.  The findings will likely blunt his ability to forcefully condemn Donald Trump‚ Biden’s likely opponent in November’s presidential election‚ over a criminal indictment charging the former president with illegally hoarding classified records at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida.

Special counsel Robert Hur has released his report which concluded that while President Joe Biden willfully retained and disclosed classified military and national security information‚ he will not face criminal charges.