Carson Again Says RNC ‘Back-Room Deals’ Could Push Him Out Of GOP

Dr. Ben Carson on Sunday continued to threaten to leave the Republican party if GOP officials plot how to handle a contested Republican convention if Trump is still in the race.

In a statement last week, Carson railed against Republicans for holding a meeting to discuss a potential contested convention and threatened to leave the party.

“If this was the beginning of the plan to subvert the will of the voters and replace them with the will of the political elite, I assure you Donald Trump will not be the only one leaving the party,” Carson said, referencing a report that Republican National Committee and other top Republicans may plan to stop Trump at the convention if the race is still contested.

The retired neurosurgeon then clarified that he would not launch a third-party run for president.

During an interview on ABC’s “This Week,” Carson said he would still consider leaving the GOP if leaders attempt to influence the Republican convention.

“Well, one of the reasons that I got into this is because I heard the frustration in the people who are so tired of back-room deals, of subterfuge, of dishonesty. And, you know, if that is the case, then you know I’m out of here,” Carson said.

But he added that RNC Chair Reince Priebus has assured him that leaders were not taking any unusual steps to prepare for the convention.

“Now I have subsequently spoken to Reince Priebus. He told me those are routine meetings. They have them all the time. This was no different than any of the others, that the last thing that they would do is engage in back room dealing,” he said. “But, you know, the jury is out. We’ll certainly be keeping a close eye on things.”

Watch the interview via ABC:

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