100 Republican ex-officials prepare to defect from GOP over Trumpism

More than 100 Republican former officials, including some who worked in the Trump administration, are preparing to leave the GOP they view as being too firmly in the grip of former President Donald Trump.

This band of impending defectors are signing a letter, expected to be released on Thursday, one day after a vote by House Republicans to boot Rep. Liz Cheney, a vocal Trump critic who voted to impeach him earlier this year, as conference chairwoman. Organizers told Reuters that the group is ready, barring a sudden change in direction by the GOP, to explore the prospect of a breakaway party.