Orrin Hatch (R-UT), the longest serving Republican Senator in U.S. history, announced Tuesday he is retiring from the Senate at the end of his term.

Orrin Hatch is 83 years old.

This is a blow to the Trump administration. Trump encouraged Orrin Hatch to run for re-election.

Trump and Bannon have been working to block RINO hack Mitt Romney from running for the Utah Senate seat.

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Mitt Romney has until March 15 to file for Hatch’s Senate seat.

Orrin Hatch’s announcement via Twitter:

Hatch said after much prayer and discussion with his family he is announcing his retirement.

An announcement from Senator Orrin G. Hatch. #utpol pic.twitter.com/UeItaLjR3j — Senator Hatch Office (@senorrinhatch) January 2, 2018

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