John F. Wooden, who resigned because the lead investigator for the Home Jan. 6 committee final week, launched a bid Wednesday to run for U.S. Senate in Missouri as an impartial, he confirmed to CBS Information.
To get on the poll, Wooden wants to gather 10,000 signatures, or 2% of the quantity of people that voted within the final Senate election, whichever is much less, in accordance with a spokesperson for the Missouri Secretary of State's Workplace. The deadline is Aug. 1.
"I actually thought it was vital there could be a 3rd possibility," he instructed CBS Information in an interview.
Wooden could be getting into the open race for retiring Republican Sen. Roy Blount's seat. Within the 50/50 Senate, each events are combating tooth and nail to carry onto each seat they'll. Wooden mentioned he plans to caucus with Republicans if elected, and mentioned polls he has seen have proven an urge for food for a mainstream Republican possibility within the vein of Blount and longtime Sen. John Danforth. Danforth has publicly known as for Wooden to enter the race.
Republicans are presently locked in a vicious main for the seat. Candidates embody former Gov. Eric Greitens, Legal professional Normal Eric Schmitt, U.S. Reps. Vicky Hartzler and Billy Lengthy, Missouri Senate President Professional Tem Dave Schatz and St. Louis lawyer Mark McCloskey.
Current polls had Greitens main, with a ballot from CBS affiliate KMOV/Survey USA in Might having him up by as a lot as 9 factors.
Greitens resigned in 2018 whereas going through an accusation of sexual assault amid an extramarital affair. Since then, his now ex-wife accused him in a courtroom submitting of being bodily abusive and "unstable."
Greitens has denied the allegations.
Wooden believes Greitens had the perfect probability to win the Republican main, which is being held on Aug. 2.
"I feel America is extra divided than its ever been in my lifetime, and nowhere is that extra proof than in Missouri, the place my occasion, the Republican occasion, looks as if it's about to appoint a disgraced former governor who just some days in the past launched an advert searching … members of his personal occasion," Wooden mentioned.
Greitens launched an advert earlier this month proclaiming he was going "searching" for RINOs, or Republicans In Identify Solely, whereas holding a gun.
Main Democratic candidates embody U.S. Marine veteran Lucas Kunce, Anheuser-Busch beer heiress Trudy Busch Valentine, and St. Louis businessman Spencer Toder. Wooden mentioned the Democratic candidates will observe the path of leaders Chuck Schumer and Nancy Pelosi.
Each nationwide and state Republicans have been anxious about Greitens, and a GOP-affiliate Tremendous PAC known as Present Me Values final week launched $1 million price of adverts in opposition to Greitens, in accordance with Politico.
Former President Donald Trump, who has a combined report as kingmaker on this yr's midterms, has not issued an endorsement. However Kimberly Guilfoyle, the fiancée of his son Donald Trump Jr., is the nationwide chair of Greitens marketing campaign, in accordance with Politico.
Wooden has just lately served because the investigative lawyer for the Home choose committee investigating the Jan. 6 assault on the U.S. Capitol. He took middle stage throughout the June 16 public listening to, the place he questioned former Vice President Mike Pence's chief counsel Greg Jacob, and conservative lawyer Michael Luttig, a couple of scheme from conservative lawyer John Eastman to place ahead alternate electors. Luttig mentioned there was "there was no foundation within the Structure or legal guidelines of the US in any respect for the speculation espoused" by Eastman.
Wooden acknowledged that Trump remains to be widespread in his state, however added that he thought that there are lots of Trump voters who acknowledge that what occurred on Jan. 6 was a "tragedy and should not be repeated."
Wooden mentioned that when he took the job working for the committee, he wasn't pondering of his political future. He mentioned he took the job as a result of it was "the fitting factor to do."
He left the committee final week.