Thaddeus McCotter during GOP presidential campaign in Aug. 2011. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
LIVONIA (WWJ) -Thaddeus McCotter ends his write-in campaign and says his sole focus as U.S. Representative is finishing his term and aiding his requested Attorney General probe.
“I have ended my write-in campaign in Michigan’s 11th Congressional District,” announced McCotter in an email sent to WWJ Newsradio 950 on Saturday.
“One can’t clean up a mess multitasking. Honoring my promise to the sovereign people of our community only allows me to finish the official duties of my present Congressional term; and aid the State Attorney General criminal investigation that I requested into identifying the person or persons who concocted the fraudulent petitions that have cost me so dearly.
The Michigan Congressman, a republican from Livonia, announced Saturday that he will not seek re-election as a write in candidate for the 11th Congressional District which includes parts of Wayne and Oakland counties.
McCotter and his campaign workers are under investigation by the state Attorney General for possible fraud after the Secretary of State determined he submitted duplicate signatures to have his name put on the August Primary ballot. Last Tuesday, McCotter said he would run as a write-in candidate, but today he said “one can’t clean up a mess multitasking.”
“Honoring this promise does not allow me to continue a political write-in campaign. This decision is final, regardless of how swiftly the investigation is concluded.”
“To those who (are) unhappy at this news, I’m sorry; to those happy at this news, you’re welcome,” McCotter concluded.
McCotter briefly ran as a hopeful GOP presidential nominee in 2011.
His term as U.S. Rep. ends at the end of the year.
