Texas Democrat Filemon Vela announced plans to resign from Congress within weeks to take a job at a law and lobbying firm. Vela previously announced that he would not seek re-election in 2022 however didn’t not any specific future plans.
The Washington Examiner reports:
“The timing now, with just nine months left in the term,” Vela told Forbes. “I’m just ready to go.”
Forbes noted that Vela in January filed documentation with the House Committee on Ethics recusing himself from matters involving the firm due to his future employment there. The firm also hired Vela’s chief of staff.
Vela’s decision means he will not serve out the remainder of his term, creating an additional hurdle for Democratic leadership already operating on a razor-thin majority.
Rep. Ted Deutch, a Florida Democrat, previously announced that he would resign from Congress to begin a new role as the CEO of the American Jewish Committee before Oct. 1.
Some Republicans have also made similar career moves. Republican Rep. Devin Nunes also left Congress early to run former President Donald Trump’s social media company.
