U.S. Rep. John Linder, R-Ga., announces retirement

After 18 years, former Gingrich lieutenant plans to leave House

Published February 27, 2010 9:02PM (EST)

U.S. Rep. John Linder has announced he will retire from Congress after 18 years.

The Republican from Gwinnett County made the announcement Saturday at the dedication of a new Gwinnett County GOP headquarters. Linder aide Derick Corbett told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution that Linder would not be seeking re-election.

Gwinnett GOP manager David Hancock told the newspaper the announcement, which came at the end of brief speech by Linder, caught attendees off-guard.

Linder was one of former House Speaker Newt Gingrich's top lieutenants, and most recently has been an advocate for a sales tax to replace the federal income tax.

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Information from: The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, http://www.ajc.com


By Associated Press

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