Richard Painter, who served as chief White House ethics lawyer from 2005 to 2007 under President George W. Bush, has switched parties to run for the Democratic Senate nomination in Minnesota against sitting Sen. Tina Smith.
Painter, a corporate law professor at the University of Minnesota Twin Cities, is expected to announce his candidacy at a Monday news conference, the Star Tribune reports.
He has been a frequent critic of President Donald Trump, often expressing his disagreement on MSNBC and social media.
He has argued one of Trump's tweets about North Korea is grounds for impeachment. "This Tweet alone is grounds for removal from office under the 25th Amendment. This man should not have nukes," Painter said in response a tweet from the president about his "Nuclear Button" being "much bigger & more powerful" than North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un's.
North Korean Leader Kim Jong Un just stated that the "Nuclear Button is on his desk at all times." Will someone from his depleted and food starved regime please inform him that I too have a Nuclear Button, but it is a much bigger & more powerful one than his, and my Button works!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 3, 2018
This Tweet alone is grounds for removal from office under the 25th Amendment. This man should not have nukes. https://t.co/ymWija85o3
— Richard W. Painter (@RWPUSA) January 3, 2018
Painter has also become progressive on gun issues, tweeting that any high school student who received a suspension for the gun control walkout should get special college credits for public service.
College admissions officers take note. Any high school student with this three day suspension on the record should get special consideration and some extra college credits for public service.https://t.co/XmXgmxxj5p
— Richard W. Painter (@RWPUSA) February 21, 2018
Painter has said he will not accept donations from political action committees.
Democratic Gov. Mark Dayton appointed Smith, then Minnesota's lieutenant governor, to serve as senator following former Sen. Al Franken's resignation in the face of a sexual harassment scandal. She was sworn in as senator Jan. 3 and has indicated she will run this year to maintain the seat through 2020, which would have been the end of Franken's term.