Rep. Matt Rosendale won’t run for re-election after ‘death threat’ and ‘false and defamatory rumors’
Rep. Matt Rosendale (R-Mont.) announced Friday that he will no longer seek re-election for his House seat after facing a “death threat” and “false and defamatory rumors” alleging that he impregnated a young staffer.
The Montana Republican, one of eight GOP House members who voted with Democrats to oust former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) last October, claims that he has been subjected to “severe retribution” for “willing to try and force true reforms” in Congress.
Rosendale, 63, ended a short-lived Senate campaign last month after former President Donald Trump endorsed his primary opponent. He says that’s when his problems began.
“Upon withdrawing from that race, and again at the urging of many, including several of the current candidates, I filed to run for reelection to my current seat,” Rosendale said in a statement.
“Since that announcement, I have been forced to have law enforcement visit my children because of a death threat against me and false and defamatory rumors against me and my family,” he added. “This has taken a serious toll on me, and my family.”
Former Sen. Heidi Heitkamp (D-ND) revealed on a podcast last month that she had heard a “little rumor” that the Montana Republican knocked up a young staffer and may be forced to resign.
“Just a little rumor – I think [the GOP] caucus may lose a member in the next couple days,” Heitkamp said during an appearance on the “Talking Feds with Harry Litman” podcast. “Might be the congressman from Montana.”
Heitkamp, 68, who lost her re-election bid to Republican Kevin Cramer in 2018, went on to suggest that the “rumor” was a reason why Rosendale suspended his campaign for the Senate, just days after announcing his bid.
“Just to gossip a little bit: There’s a reason why Rosendale backed out of that Senate race — the rumor is he impregnated a 20-year-old staff person,” Heitkamp claimed.
A spokesman for Rosendale told The Post at the time that the rumor was “100% false and defamatory” and that Heitkamp would be “hearing from our lawyers soon.”
The congressman noted in his farewell statement that the rumors and death threat have “caused a serious disruption to the election of the next representative” for Montana’s 2nd Congressional District.
“To me, public service has truly always been about serving, not titles or positions of power. The current attacks have made it impossible for me to focus on my work to serve you,” Rosendale said.
“So, in the best interest of my family and the community, I am withdrawing from the House race and will not be seeking office.”
“It has been my honor to serve you and may God bless each and every one of you,” he concluded.
