Republican congressman suggests his district 'secede' to get attention

Republican Rep. Morgan Griffith (VA) invoked the idea of “secession” in an email to constituents on the same day Donald Trump pushed the idea of a “civil war” over his impeachment inquiry.

“Perhaps Southwest Virginia will receive more attention if we decide to secede from the Union,” Griffith wrote. “Perhaps we can form the independent nation of Franklin, just as the State of Franklin was contemplated in the era of the Revolution, and then cross the border back into the United States. Then Washington Democrats may pay attention to the rural health care needs of American citizens.”

Virginia’s secession from the United States was one of the major events that triggered the Civil War.

More Civil War battles occurred in Virginia than any other state, claiming the lives of thousands of Americans. The pro-slavery Confederacy surrendered to the U.S. government at Appomattox Court House in the state.

Griffith later noted that his proposal was “not serious” and admitted that it was an attempt to draw attention to himself and his opposition to H.R. 3525, which would require Border Patrol to set up a process for proper medical screening of migrants. The bill passed the House 230-184 late last month.

The congressman also noted that he was upset about legislation that passed the House and Senate disapproving of Trump’s phony declaration of an “emergency” at the southern border.

On the same day Griffith sent out his email, Trump tweeted a quote from supporter Pastor Robert Jeffress indicating that Trump’s removal from office would “cause a Civil War like fracture in this Nation from which our Country will never heal.”

Both men used the world-changing conflict that left anywhere from 600,000 to over 800,000 Americans to make a crude political point.

Griffith’s district is overwhelmingly Republican. He easily won reelection there in 2018 while his fellow Virginia Republicans lost seats along with the national party. Over the last two years, Griffith has voted with Trump nearly 90% of the time.

Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.