Congress was shocked this week to learn that a Republican member announced he would not seek reelection in the wake of allegations from a Democratic colleague. 

According to The Daily Wire, Rep. Matt Rosendale (R-MT) made the shocking announcement on Friday.

The announcement came in the wake of allegations made by former Sen. Heidi Heitkamp (D-ND) that rumors surfaced about Rosendale impregnating a 20-year-old staffer in his office.

The situation, Rosendale said, has led to a disruption in his family, including death threats aimed at him and his children.

What's happening?

Rosendale's office strongly denied the Democratic lawmaker's rumors, calling them "100% false and defamatory" and suggested that lawyers would soon be involved.

The Montana Republican had also entered into the Senate race but withdrew several days later after former President Donald Trump endorsed his competitor.

"At the onset of this election season, at the urging of many, I announced my candidacy for the U.S. Senate," Rosendale said.

He continued, "It became very obvious soon after that announcement that the national support and resources necessary to win that seat were not going to be available to me. I withdrew as soon as possible so as not to jeopardize the opportunity for Republicans to secure that seat and, with it, the majority in the U.S. Senate, which is critical for our country."

Matt Rosendale Won’t Run For Reelection After Short-Lived Senate Bid https://t.co/5VtHprgWeJ

— Daily Caller (@DailyCaller) March 8, 2024

Death threats

"Upon withdrawing from that race, and again at the urging of many, including several of the current candidates, I filed to run for reelection to my current seat,” Rosendale said.

He added, "Since that announcement, I have been forced to have law enforcement visit my children because of a death threat against me and false and defamatory rumors against me and my family. This has taken a serious toll on me, and my family. Additionally, it has caused a serious disruption to the election of the next representative for MT-02."

Many social media users were stunned by his announcement, with some suggesting that blackmail could be involved.

"This is otherwise known as blackmail. Somebody has something on him," one X user wrote.

Rosendale, a member of the House Freedom Caucus, was one of seven Republicans who voted with Democrats to oust Kevin McCarthy from the speakership earlier this year.