Did a report on Congressman Tom Marino’s friendly ties to big pharma lead to his resignation this week?

A Republican Congressman who just won reelection and took the oath of office is resigning.

Pennsylvania Rep. Tom Marino won reelection in his heavily Republican district in November but he has decided to take a job in the private sector, CNN reported.

Creating Jobs

“As of January 23, 2019, I am officially stepping down from Congress,” he said in a statement.

“Having spent over two decades serving the public, I have chosen to take a position in the private sector where I can use both my legal and business experience to create jobs around the nation.”

“I want to thank the people of the 12th Congressional District of Pennsylvania for the faith they have placed in me to represent them in Congress. It truly has been one of the greatest honors of my life,” he said.

Drug Czar

Marino was considered on two separate occasions for the job of drug czar in President Donald Trump’s administration.

But he withdrew his name both times, The Meadville Tribune reported.

He pulled his name the first time “following a report from The Washington Post and 60 Minutes regarding his work on the Ensuring Patient Access and Effective Drug Enforcement Act of 2016,” The Tribune said.

The report indicated that he and other members of Congress pressured the Drug Enforcement Agency and the Justice Department to push for legislation more friendly to big pharma.

The second time he withdrew his name was when he wanted to be home to take care of his ailing mother, The Tribune reported.

Marino backed President Trump in 2016 and was the co-chair of his Pennsylvania operation.

This would have been the first time Marino served in the House as his Party was in the minority.

Marino is married with two children and has survived kidney cancer twice.

Now Gov. Tom Wolf will be charged with holding a special election to fill Rep. Marino’s spot in Congress.