Retiring GOP Congressman Says He'll Vote for Clinton

BySHUSHANNAH WALSHE ABCNews logo
Tuesday, August 2, 2016

Rep. Richard Hanna of New York became the first Republican in Congress to say he would vote for Hillary Clinton over Donald Trump in November.

The outgoing congressman argued in an op-ed in The Syracuse Post Standard that he "disagree(s)" with (Clinton) on different issues, but called Trump a "national embarrassment."

"While I disagree with her on many issues, I will vote for Ms. Clinton," Hanna wrote.

"I found (Trump) profoundly offensive and narcissistic but as much as anything, a world-class panderer, anything but a leader," he continued. "Little more than a changing mirror of those he speaks to. I never expect to agree with whoever is president, but at a minimum the president needs to consistently display those qualities I have preached to my two children: kindness, honesty, dignity, compassion and respect."

Hanna also specifically mentions Trump's attacks on Khizr and Ghazala Khan, parents of fallen Army Capt. Humayun Khan, who delivered a powerful address at the Democratic National Convention last week.

"In his latest foray of insults, Mr. Trump has attacked the parents of a slain U.S. soldier." Hanna asked.

In March, Hanna said he would never vote for Trump.

Republican leaders, including Sen. John McCain, have praised the Khan family and attempted to distance themselves from Trump, but no other GOP congressional leader has gone as far as Hanna in endorsing Trump's opponent.

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