Kentucky Congressman Ed Whitfield to Resign Next Week After Ethics Investigation

Representative Ed Whitfield (R-Ky.) submitted his intent to resign from Congress next week, following a tumultuous investigation by the House Ethics Committee.

After being dogged by an ethics probe into “special favors” he provided to his wife, a lobbyist, Whitfield announced in a letter to Kentucky Governor Matt Bevin that he will vacate his House seat on Tuesday.

Whitfield wrote:

“It has been my honor and privilege to have represented the constituents of the First District of Kentucky in the United States Congress for the last almost 22 years.

As you know, I did not seek re-election to Congress this year and have now decided to submit my resignation as the Congressman of the First District of Kentucky, effective 6PM, Tuesday, September 6, 2016.

I have enjoyed serving with you and wish you and your Administration the very best! This the 29th day of August, 2016.”

The news of Whitfield’s resignation submission to Bevin was first reported by the Associated Press.

Bevin responded to the announced Wednesday evening on Twitter:

.@RepEdWhitfield has served the people of Kentucky’s first district admirably, and we wish him all the very best in the years ahead.

— Matt Bevin (@MattBevin) August 31, 2016

While Whitfield’s seat is set to be filled in the new Congress by either Democrat Sam Gaskins or businessman James Comer, a Republican, Bevin announced that a special election will take place on November 8th to temporarily fill the seat, coinciding with the general election.

Comer immediately responded to the news of Whitfield’s retirement and Bevin’s intention to hold a special election by issuing a statement, reading:

“I will seek the nomination for the unexpired term of Congressman Whitfield, and fully expect to be on the ballot twice on November 8, once for the unexpired term and once for the full two year term.”

Whitfield represented Kentucky’s first congressional district since 1995.

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