GOP Lawmaker Resigns From Congress To Be Trump Media's CEO

Rep. Devin Nunes, R-Calif., on Monday announced that he was resigning from Congress to take over the CEO position in former President Donald Trump’s social media company in January.

“Recently, I was presented with a new opportunity to fight for the most important issues I believe in. I’m writing to let you know I’ve decided to pursue this opportunity, and therefore I will be leaving the House of Representatives at the end of 2021,” Nunes, the top Republican on the House Intelligence Committee, said in a letter to his constituents.

“Rest assured, I have not, by any means, given up our collective fight — I’ll just be pursuing it through other means,” he added.

Nunes would have been in line to become chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee if the Republicans win back the majority control of the House in the 2022 midterm elections. The California Republican will lead Trump Media & Technology Group (TMTG) despite having no prior tech experience.

In a press release by TMTG, the former president described Nunes as a “fighter and a leader” who will “stop the Big Tech from destroying the freedoms that make America great.” Trump and other conservative lawmakers have repeatedly accused Silicon Valley social media firms of censorship and cancel culture.

Nunes has served in Congress for 10 terms. He was forced to drop himself from the House Intelligence Committee panel’s investigation into Russian interference in the presidential election in 2016 after he revealed classified information. At the time, he was serving as the ranking member of the committee.

Nunes was also one of the 147 House Republicans that challenged President Joe Biden’s electoral win following the deadly Jan. 6 riot at the Capitol.

The Republican’s resignation now opens the top position in the Ways and Means Committee should the GOP win back the House majority. Several senior Republicans are expected to run, including Reps. Vern Buchana, R-Fla., Adrian Smith, R-Neb., and Jason Smith, R-Mo., according to The Hill.

Nunes’ appointment as TMTG’s CEO comes hours after it was revealed that the Digital World Acquisition Corp. said the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) asked it for information about stock trading and communications with Trump’s social media company.

Digital World Acquisition Corp. is on track to merge with TMTG. The acquisition company disclosed the SEC investigation in an 8-K filing with the government agency.