Utah GOP says goodbye to Chaffetz, with some disappointment

SANDY, Utah (AP) — As Utah Republicans met for their annual state convention Saturday, the party faithful both gave Rep. Jason Chaffetz a warm send-off and occasionally expressed disappointment at his abrupt departure from Congress and key role investigating the White House.

Chaffetz, known for his hard-charging investigations of Hillary Clinton and his frequent appearances on cable news, announced Thursday that he was resigning June 30, just as his committee was poised to investigate President Donald Trump's firing of FBI director James Comey.

Chaffetz appeared briefly at the event Saturday, watching in the wings as the party played a video tribute to him that included clips of the congressman issuing subpoenas as House oversight chairman and leg wrestling on the floor with comedian Stephen Colbert in a bit for Comedy Central's "The Colbert Report."

The congressman, recovering from a recent foot surgery, used a scooter to make his way to the stage, where the crowed greeted him with a standing ovation.

Chaffetz said one of his greatest achievements was using his oversight role to help expose scandals with Clinton's email, the 2012 terrorist attack in Benghazi and the Secret Service — a list of investigations that drew applause from the audience.

Earlier in the day, as Republicans representing all corners of Utah mingled with politicians at campaign booths decked in banners, Chaffetz's booth in the center of the room was strikingly bare, with the politician himself missing most of the morning.