Controversial US Senator Is Headed Out
(RightWing.org) – Senator Ben Sasse (R-NE) enjoyed several firsts in his short political career, making him a conservative outcast. For instance, he supported the “Never Trump” movement months before any other Republican. Likewise, he was the first GOP senator to speak out against efforts to contest the 2020 Electoral College ballots and to support impeaching former President Donald Trump after the January 6 Capitol Hill riots. However, in a recent twist, he’s headed out of Washington DC — perhaps for good.
On November 9, the Florida Board of Governors, which oversees the state’s university system, approved Sasse’s appointment as president-elect of the University of Florida (UF). The university’s Board of Trustees voted unanimously to select Sasse as UF’s 13th president.
The trustees praised Sasse’s academic credentials and published works. However, they remained conspicuously silent regarding his political career, including his nearly eight years in the Senate and 13 months as the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation under former President George W. Bush.
POLITICO reported that Sasse will take over as the University of Florida’s president on February 6. The senator posted a tweet announcing his upcoming resignation in January.
thrilled to join Gator Nation in February — very excited about the work ahead. Melissa and I have had the great honor of serving Nebraskans in the Senate these 8 yrs — I will finish out the upcoming lameduck session and resign in the first week of January https://t.co/W4mS5hnTR9
— Ben Sasse (@BenSasse) November 9, 2022
Sasse’s term of office ends on January 3, 2027. Nebraska’s Republican Governor-elect Jim Pillen will select the senator’s replacement. Some political analysts speculate that Pillen will name outgoing Gov. Pete Rickets (R-NE) to serve the remainder of Sasse’s current term.
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