Washington (CNN) Richard Painter, a former White House ethics lawyer for President George W. Bush who has emerged as a prominent critic of President Donald Trump, announced that he is considering a run for Senate. Painter, speaking at the Minnesota State Capitol on Wednesday, told reporters he is forming an exploratory committee that will look at what a campaign for the Minnesota US Senate seat vacated by Al Franken, and now held by Democrat Tina Smith, may look like. During a conversation with CNN, Painter said he announced an exploratory committee because he wants to see if a path to victory is viable. Painter, a law professor at the University of Minnesota, went on to say he isn't sure if he'll run as a Republican. He said there are three options -- running as a Democrat, Republican or independent -- but that he needs to figure out which would best suit his candidacy.

Source: CNN March 08, 2018 02:15 UTC