Rep. Scott Rigell (R-Va.) this week became the first Republican member of Congress to publicly support Libertarian Gary Johnson over GOP nominee Donald Trump.

The endorsement meant the retiring congressman had to resign from the Virginia Beach Republican Party, whose members are required to support the party nominee.

Rigell, whose says his congressional district includes more members of the military than any other, is the son of a Marine veteran who served in Iwo Jima. Rigell himself served in the Marine Corps Reserves and inspired his son and two nephews to become Marines. He said his service makes him particularly critical of Trump and spurred his support for Johnson, who he hopes will gain enough traction in the polls to participate in the presidential debates.

The Washington Post spoke to Rigell on Wednesday about the election and Virginia’s diminishing clout in Congress.

When did you first realize you couldn’t vote for Trump?

I don’t see him as a man of being of reputable character. I never have. . . . The Khan comment, that’s what really got me off the sidelines. [With U.S. Navy assets in my district], we have a heavy and disproportionate sacrifice. I know many, many families. We have grieved with them and held them. To see a man try to somehow put in context the sacrifice of a Gold Star family with his quote-unquote sacrifice of creating jobs, that’s when I said, “No, I’m done.”

What do you think of Trump’s recent remark about Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton and “Second Amendment supporters”?

It was absolutely intentional on his part to put uncertainty in this. He’s raising the whole specter of violence. It’s the antithesis of the man or woman that should lead this country. . . . There’s a Navy veteran — his name is Coby Dillard. He is one of the most thoughtful conservatives that I know. He’s got a big pain tolerance. Frankly, you have to if you’re African American and in the Republican Party. [The GOP has] lost Coby. . . . I think [Trump’s nomination] is going to be a permanent breach of what it means to be a Republican.

You endorsed Gary Johnson. Will you campaign for him? Will you fundraise for him? I noticed your name is misspelled on his website. What do you think of that?

Well, isn’t that humbling? [Laughs] We’ll get that straight. I really believe that leaders need to be counted. I want to properly use the influence that I do have. I will help Governor Johnson to the extent that he wants me to help him. He was effusive, I’d say, in his expression of thanks. . . . I really didn’t think that much of it. And then the phone started blowing up, so here we are.

You’re not seeking re-election, but you’re in the middle of a media blitz and some in the party have welcomed your message. I wonder if you regret not running again.

Oh no. . . . There’s a season to life. My major purpose was to take the gavel from Nancy Pelosi. We did that.

You endorsed Rep. J. Randy Forbes, but as you know, Del. Scott Taylor defeated him, tapping into some of what has animated Trump supporters. Do you feel out of touch?

I don’t think that’s the case, I really don’t. About 40 percent of the people [in my district] wanted Trump, which is to say 60 percent wanted somebody else. I think if this vote was done over today I really believe it would be somewhere like 35.

Scott’s a friend of mine, I’m campaigning with and for him. It is true even after saying that the loss of [Forbes] as chair of the seapower subcommittee [of the House Armed Services Committee] and replacing that person with a freshman, you’re so far down from the dais they can’t even see you.