Republican Rep. Chris Collins will relaunch his congressional campaign as he fights federal insider trading charges, the lawmaker said Wednesday, CNBC informed.
State Republicans attempted to replace the representative on the ballot after he was indicted last month. But on Monday, Collins’ attorney said the Republican would stay on the ballot “because of the protracted and uncertain nature of any legal effort” to replace him.
Collins himself took it further. In a statement Wednesday, the lawmaker said he would start to “actively campaign” after suspending his campaign in August.
He also committed to serving another term if he gets re-elected.
“I will fight on two fronts. I will work to ensure the 27th Congressional District remains in Republican hands, while I fight to clear my good name in the courts,” said Collins, who was President Donald Trump’s earliest supporter in Congress.
The representative will face Democratic candidate Nate McMurray in November. Collins’ 27th District seat was seen as safe for Republicans, but prognosticators consider it more competitive with an indicted Collins on the ballot.
Prosecutors allege Collins, while serving on the board of Australian company Innate Immunotherapeutics, tipped his son about a failed drug trail before it was announced. His son then sold off his shares, prosecutors say.
The GOP representative has pleaded not guilty to the charges.
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