In a statement, Hatch said he decided to retire at the end of his seventh term after “much prayer and discussion with family and friends” over the holiday break. Last month Hatch lashed out at former White House adviser Steve Bannon for his attack on Romney and the Mormon Church. Hatch also served as chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee and was at the centre of many of the biggest confirmation battles. He seemed to waver on that decision in recent months with Trump publicly calling on him to run again. Romney, an unabashed Trump critic, would likely be among a small number of influential Republicans willing to take on Trump.

Source: thestar January 02, 2018 19:34 UTC