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WATCH: GOP lawmaker says House chaplain downplayed resignation

by Molly K. Hooper - 04/27/18 1:23 PM ET

Capitol Hill was shocked by reports that Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) asked for the resignation of House Chaplain Patrick Conroy — but one GOP lawmaker told The Hill that Conroy downplayed the news when speaking to him.

Rep. Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.) said the Jesuit priest called it “common” to take another assignment after serving a seven year stint in one location. Conroy had been the House chaplain since 2011.

“He said that ‘that’s common,’ he’s been here seven years and every seven years they normally get a different assignment; that’s what he personally told me,” Mullin told The Hill.

“There’s always rumors here around this place but that came directly from the father’s mouth to me,” Mullin said, adding, “Trust but verify.”

Conroy said this week he was asked to resign and the reasons were “unclear” to him. A number of lawmakers protested Conroy’s departure upon learning this week that Ryan asked for it.

The Hill reported Friday that Ryan told the House Republican Conference that he asked Conroy to exit because multiple members told Ryan they felt he was not meeting their “pastoral needs.”

Click on the video above to hear the lawmaker in his own words.

-Alison Spann contributed to this report.

Tags Markwayne Mullin Pat Conroy Pat Conroy Paul Ryan