Rep. Trey Gowdy earned a reputation as a dogged hyper-partisan that endeared him to conservatives, but the outgoing South Carolina Republican told Vice News in an interview, "that's not who I am."
In fact, Gowdy credits House Speaker Paul Ryan with recognizing that despite his prosecutorial chops and penchant for hammering away at witnesses like Hillary Clinton during the Benghazi hearings, there was a better place for Gowdy.
The House Intelligence Committee.
"Paul, I think, watched that and Paul knows me pretty well, he says, 'That's not who the guy is.' We'll put you on House Intel, which is the most highly coveted committee in Congress," Gowdy told Vice.
"It is apolitical, it is bipartisan and it never makes the news … and then Russia happened.
"The House Intelligence Committee was more divisive than the oversight committee has ever been," Gowdy said.
Gowdy admitted he doesn't like the job and is counting down trips to the airport before his term is up; he announced in January that he would not seek re-election.
"I don't like the job. I'm an executive branch guy, I'm not a legislative branch guy," Gowdy said. "I have 19 more drives to the airport before this session is over."
The main negative of being a congressman for Gowdy - "ineffectiveness."
"You're one of 435. You have to say it in 30 seconds," Gowdy said. "We've convinced ourselves that we have to win because the country will go to Hades in a hand basket if my team doesn't win."
Further, Gowdy bemoans the political culture in which you're beloved one minute and derided the next.
"Ninety-nine's a failing grade. I liked you yesterday but the first time you do something I don't agree with … you're a sellout, RINO, a squish," Gowdy said, adding he knows the reason he has fallen out of favor with conservatives.
"I defend Mueller. I haven't figured out how to commercialize conservatism as some of my critics have," Gowdy said.
"You won't see me run for political office again. I'm done."
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