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Jeff Flake: Republican senator quits with attack on Trump Jeff Flake: Republican senator quits with attack on Trump
(35 minutes later)
A US Republican senator says he will not seek re-election, attacking the era of President Donald Trump. A US Republican senator says he will not seek re-election, delivering a fierce attack on President Donald Trump.
"There may not be a place for a Republican like me in the current Republican climate or the current Republican Party," Arizona Senator Jeff Flake said. Arizona Senator Jeff Flake said "reckless, outrageous and undignified behaviour" at the top of the US government was dangerous to democracy.
Mr Trump has previously called Mr Flake "toxic".Mr Trump has previously called Mr Flake "toxic".
The US president is currently embroiled in a row with another Republican Senator, Bob Corker. The US president is already embroiled in a row with another Republican Senator, Bob Corker.
Before confirming his decision in a speech to the Senate, Mr Flake told the Arizona Republic "there may not be a place for a Republican like me in the current Republican climate or the current Republican Party".
Taking to the floor, he said he did not enjoy criticising the president but felt it was "a matter of duty and conscience".
"We must never regard as "normal" the regular and casual undermining of our democratic norms and ideals," he said.
He lamented the "flagrant disregard for truth or decency, the reckless provocations, most often for the pettiest and most personal reasons".
"I have children and grandchildren to answer to, and so, Mr President, I will not be complicit," he added.
Another prominent party critic of Mr Trump, John McCain, was quick to pay tribute to Mr Flake.
In a series of television interviews earlier in the day, Mr Corker accused the president of lying, adding that he debased the US and weakened its global standing.
Mr Trump fired back on Twitter, calling the Tennessee senator a "lightweight" who "couldn't get re-elected".