Rep. Jason Chaffetz (R., Utah) on Wednesday spoke out about his impending departure from Congress, saying that "at some point, you've got to get off this crazy train." Chaffetz, chairman of the Oversight Committee, is expected to resign his House seat effective June 30th.
CNN's "The Situation Room" host Wolf Blitzer asked Chaffetz why he was leaving Congress with so much still to do.
"At some point, you've got to get off this crazy train. There's always somebody doing something stupid somewhere, so there's always plenty of things to investigate and look at," Chaffetz said.
"But you know, at some point, you got to look yourself in the mirror, and say, you know, I've spent more than 1500 nights away from my family," he explained. "I happen to love my wife and adore my kids, we're about to become empty nesters, and looking at the prospect of spending another two or three hundred nights away from my wonderful wife Julie over the next 18 months, I just don't want to do it anymore."
"I always promised that I would get in, serve, and get out," Chaffetz said.
Rep. Chaffetz to @wolfblitzer on why he’s leaving Congress: "At some point, you’ve got to get off this crazy train" https://t.co/RlG9DvyCae
— The Situation Room (@CNNSitRoom) May 24, 2017
Blitzer asked Chaffetz about his plans after departure, including rumors that he might take a job working for Fox News.
"I haven't felt any compulsion to talk about my post-congressional life," he said. "But I have a voice, I'd like to express it along the way, but find more balance in my life. So we'll cross that bridge when we get to July 1."
Chaffetz explained he wanted to "loosen up the tie a little bit."