https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2021/10/21/joe-manchin-offers-to-become-an-independent-amid-reconciliation-negotiations-with-biden/

Joe Manchin Offers to Become an Independent amid Reconciliation Negotiations with Biden

21 Oct 2021

Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV) on Thursday said he offered to change his party affiliation to an independent amid tough reconciliation negotiations with President Biden and the far-left.

“Me being a moderate centrist Democrat if that causes you a problem, let me know, and I’d switch to be an independent, but I’d still be caucusing with Democrats,” he said.

“That’s the only thing was ever discussed. No one accepted that, and I just said, ‘I’ll make that offer, if you need it,'” Manchin said, noting the proposal was “not accepted.”

On Wednesday a leak to Mother Jones revealed Manchin was leaving the Democrat Party. But shorty after the leak, Manchin came out strongly against the leak, calling it “bullshit.”

“I have no control of rumors, guys. No control of rumors,” he claimed.

But others suggested Thursday the leak could have been from Manchin himself. Politico Playbook wrote Thursday the leak to David Corn, reported in Mother Jones, may have been intentional: