Republican congressman Reichert: I'm not going to endorse Trump

SEATTLE — Washington Republican congressman Dave Reichert told KIRO 7 he will not endorse Donald Trump, the Republican presidential nominee.

“I grew up with certain principles,” Reichert told KIRO 7 anchor Dave Wagner. “I taught my kids certain principles, and you know, when you insult veterans and others, insult certain ethnicities and certain groups of people … I'm not going to endorse Donald Trump.”

However, Reichert said there’s also “no way I can vote for Hillary Clinton.”

“I just can't get there,” he said.

The former King County sheriff said there are other movements afoot with other possible candidates.

“I don't know where Donald Trump's going to end up here, whether or not he'll still be a candidate in the next couple of months,” Reichert said.

“We have two candidates who are flawed in ways they are created a lot of consternation among folks across the country."

Reichert said he's looking at the Libertarian presidential candidate, Gary Johnson, but isn't sure he can bring himself to vote for him, either.

Asked about Trump’s Second Amendment comment – saying that Second Amendment supporters could take care of Clinton – Reichert said he tries not to interpret anything Trump says.

“I listen to it and shake my head. Who knows what he means? I can't really interpret it one way or the other. But I don't think it was very well said."

Reichert also is teaming up with an unlikely ally to bridge the divide between the African-American community and police officers.

He co-wrote an op-ed article in “The Hill” newspaper with Democratic congressman John Lewis, who led an all-day Democratic sit-in earlier this summer on the House floor to demand votes on gun-control bills.

Cox Media Group