Man Who Triggered Mueller Inquiry Running for Congress

From the big house to the House? George Papadopoulos, the former Trump campaign adviser who triggered what became the Mueller investigation and served 14 days in prison for lying to the FBI, has filed paperwork to run for Congress. The Republican is running for the seat being opened by the resignation of Democratic Rep. Katie Hill in California's 25th District, the BBC reports. "I'm smelling blood in the water now that Katie Hill has resigned," he tweeted on Sunday. "California’s 25th congressional district is wide open for the taking. Someone has to step up." GOP State Sen. Scott Wilk, who already represents a large part of the district, is also running.

The FBI opened the Russia investigation after Papadopoulos told an Australian diplomat Russia had dirt on Hillary Clinton during a 2016 drinking session in London. After the 32-year-old was released from prison, he wrote the book Deep State Target: How I Got Caught in the Crosshairs of the Plot to Bring Down President Trump, NBC News reports. A primary election is expected March 3, and the top two candidates, regardless of party, will compete in a special election later in the spring. The Washington Post predicts that the election will be a "barometer of the nation's political mood" in a district that was once reliably Republican but voted for Hillary Clinton in 2016 and elected Hill over GOP incumbent Rep. Steve Knight by 8 points last year. (More George Papadopoulos stories.)