Minnesota Republican Representative Michele Bachmann announced Wednesday that she would not seek a fifth term in Congress next year:
My good friends: After a great deal of thought and deliberation, I have decided next year I will not seek a fifth congressional term to represent the wonderful people of the Sixth District of Minnesota. After serious consideration, I am confident that this is the right decision.
Bachmann's announcement was made in an eight-and-a-half-minute video during which she emphatically stated her decision was "not impacted in any way by the recent inquiries into the activities of my former presidential campaign or my former presidential staff." The Federal Election Commission and the Office of Congressional Ethics are investigating allegations that her presidential campaign may have improperly used money raised by one of her House-affiliated political action committees to help her presidential bid in the run up to the Iowa presidential caucuses in January 2012.
She also said her decision was "not in any way influenced by any concerns about my being reelected to Congress." Bachmann was being challenged again by Democrat Jim Graves, whom she defeated by fewer than 5,000 votes, or 1.2 percent last November.
Bachmann left the door open to future political campaigns:
You can watch Bachmann's video announcement below:"There is no future option or opportunity, be it directly in the political area or otherwise, that I won’t be giving serious consideration if it can help save and protect our great nation for future generations."
Bachmann has served in the House since 2007, is the first Republican woman to represent of Minnesota in Congress, and is the founder of the TEA Party Caucus.
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