SPOKANE, Wash. (AP) — Matt Shea of Spokane Valley is giving up his seat in the Washington House of Representatives, but he hasn’t given up his dream of creating a 51st state out of the eastern half of Washington.
Shea spoke Saturday at a rally in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, that featured many prominent figures in the far-right “patriot” movement.
Shea vowed to continue pushing for the creation of a 51st state called Liberty, separate from liberal Seattle and the rest of western Washington.
Shea says he wants to put the issue on the ballot for this November in every county in eastern Washington.
He also suggested that northern Idaho might be included.