With only hours left in its term, the 117th Congress is suddenly one member short.
North Carolina Rep. G. K. Butterfield (D) resigned Friday afternoon, days ahead of the expected end of his congressional career.
Butterfield had represented North Carolina’s 1st Congressional District since 2004. He announced in November of last year that he would not run for reelection in 2022.
Butterfield’s resignation came one day before his first day at a prominent D.C. law firm where he’ll serve as a lobbyist. Though there is a one-year ban on lobbying Congress, former lawmakers can lobby other parts of government, including the Executive Branch, immediately upon retirement.
The Hill reports:
“It’s another phase of my professional life, so I’m looking forward to it,” he said, according to WRAL. “It will be a slower pace.”
The former chair of the Congressional Black Caucus was first elected to the northwestern North Carolina district in 2004. His term would have automatically ended at noon on Tuesday had he not resigned on Friday.
When he announced his decision not to seek reelection in 2021, Butterfield criticized North Carolina congressional maps that made his Democratic-leaning district much more competitive.
But after legal challenges, North Carolina used a different court-drawn map for the 2022 election that kept the district Democratic-leaning.
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Hooray 1 less to worry about
Why did he do this? He’s out on December 30th anyway. Avoid an investigation?
It gives his replacement a few extra days of seniority.
How Much DAMAGE can he still do as a Lobbyist ?
“Though there is a one-year ban on lobbying Congress, former lawmakers can lobby other parts of government, including the Executive Branch, immediately upon retirement.” And it will just be coincidental that democtrat congresspeople will be visiting the executive branch and other parts of government while he is lobbying them.
As much if not more than when he was a congresscritter.
Funny😆
Government officials once retired or out of office should be banned from being lobbyists.
There should be NO lobbyists!
A ten year ban on lobbying by former elected or appointed officials should stop the gravy train of earning more as a lobbyist than they legally did in office.
…it would be best if he could simply be flushed down the toilet…