WASHINGTON (REUTERS) - More than two-dozen former Republican lawmakers, including former senator Jeff Flake, endorsed Democrat Joe Biden for president on Monday (Aug 24), the first day of the Republican National Convention, in the latest rebuke of US President Donald Trump by members of his own party.
The 27 former members of Congress joined a "Republicans for Biden" initiative organised by the Biden campaign to encourage Republican support for the Democrat, the Biden campaign said.
They cited Trump's "corruption, destruction of democracy, blatant disregard for moral decency, and urgent need to get the country back on course" as reasons for the move, according to a campaign statement.
Mr Flake, whose opposition to Mr Trump led the Arizona Republican to retire from the Senate in 2018, was due to speak to reporters later on Monday about his decision to endorse Mr Biden.
The former lawmakers represent only the latest Republican group to endorse the Democratic presidential nominee and oppose Mr Trump in the Nov 3 election, illustrating how the Republican President has alienated members of his own party.
Last week, 73 former Republican national security officials, including former chiefs of the FBI and CIA, endorsed Mr Biden while calling Mr Trump corrupt and unfit to serve.
The opposition groups object to Mr Trump's alienation of US allies abroad and his leadership at home, including his response to the coronavirus pandemic that has killed more than 176,000 Americans, according to a Reuters tally, and triggered a severe economic downturn.
The Trump campaign has described the Republican groups campaigning for Mr Biden, such as Republican Voters Against Trump and 43 Alumni for Biden - hundreds of officials who worked for Mr George W. Bush - as "the swamp," disaffected former officials "trying to take down the duly elected President of the United States".
Separately, the Lincoln Project, one of the most prominent Republican-backed groups opposing Trump, said on Monday that former Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele had joined it as a senior adviser.
"The chair behind the Resolute Desk has always been bigger than any political party," Steele said in a statement.
"Sadly, we have witnessed its occupant devolve into preying upon fears and resentments with narcissism that nurtures only chaos and confusion. Leadership is needed now more than ever."
On Sunday, one of the group's co-founders, George Conway, and his wife, Trump adviser Kellyanne Conway, both stepped down from their political roles, citing a need to spend time with family.
Last week, 73 former Republican national security officials, including former chiefs of the FBI and CIA, endorsed Biden while calling Trump unfit to serve.
Opposition groups object to Trump's alienation of US allies abroad and his leadership at home, including his response to the coronavirus pandemic that has killed over 176,000 Americans.
The Trump campaign has described the groups as disaffected former officials "trying to take down the duly elected President of the United States."
