Former Rep. Jim Leach and a group of other former Republican congressmen issued a letter condemning Donald Trump. | AP Photo Former GOP congressmen lash out at Trump

Donald Trump, “a man who makes a mockery” of conservative principles, is “manifestly unqualified” for the presidency, a group of former GOP members of Congress warned Thursday.

“Each of us has taken an oath of office that conferred upon us a solemn obligation to act in the best interests of the United States. As Republican members of Congress, we took pride in representing a political party that stood for honest and principled public leadership in which the American people could place their trust,” they wrote in a joint statement. “Sadly, our party’s nominee this year is a man who makes a mockery of the principles and values we have cherished and which we sought to represent in Congress.”


The signatories, half of which are publicly announcing their opposition to the Republican presidential nominee for the first time, include former Reps. Bill Clinger of Pennsylvania, Jim Leach of Iowa, Tom Petri of Wisconsin and G. William Whitehurst of Virginia.s

The batch of former lawmakers said Trump fails with flying colors in every quality necessary to assess a candidate’s fitness for office.

“Given the enormous power of the office, every candidate for president must be judged rigorously in assessing whether he or she has the competence, intelligence, knowledge, understanding, empathy, judgment, and temperament necessary to keep America on a safe and steady course,” they wrote. “Donald Trump fails on each of those measures, and he has proven himself manifestly unqualified to be president.”

They collectively blasted the real estate mogul for his rhetoric, which throughout his campaign has ranged from derogatory comments toward swaths of people to the incitement of violence and religious immigration tests.

“Every day brings a fresh revelation that highlights the unacceptable danger in electing him to lead our nation,” they said.

Noting their pride for having served in Congress for the Republican Party, the group of former lawmakers closed by urging fellow Republicans to follow suit in their pledge not to vote for Trump in November.

“It is in that spirit that, as Donald Trump’s unfitness for public office has become ever more apparent, we urge our fellow Republicans not to vote for this man whose disgraceful candidacy is indefensible,” they said. “This is no longer about our party; it’s now about America. We may differ on how we will cast our ballots in November but none of us will vote for Donald Trump.”

The list of signatories includes: Steve Bartlett (R-Texas), Bob Bauman (R-Md.), Sherwood Boehlert (R-N.Y.), Jack Buechner (R-Mo.), Tom Campbell (R-Calif.), Bill Clinger (R-Pa.), Tom Coleman (R-Mo.), Geoff Davis (R-Ky.), Mickey Edwards (R-Okla.), Harris Fawell (R-Ill.), Ed Foreman (R-Texas, N.M.), Amo Houghton Jr. (R-N.Y.). Sen. Gordon Humphrey (R-N.H.), Bob Inglis (R-S.C.), Jim Kolbe (R-Ariz.), Steve Kuykendall (R-Calif.), Jim Leach (R-Iowa), Pete McCloskey (R-Calif.), Connie Morella (R-Md.), Mike Parker (R-Miss.), Tom Petri (R-Wis.), John Porter (R-Ill.), Claudine Schneider (R-R.I.), John “Joe” Schwarz (R-Mich.), Chris Shays (R-Conn.), Peter Smith (R-Vt.), Edward Weber (R-Ohio), Vin Weber (R-Minn.), G. William Whitehurst (R-Va.) and Dick Zimmer (R-N.J.)