The Hill News

Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) on Monday said he has no regrets about his break from mainstream Republican opposition to a proposed mosque near the former World Trade Center site in Manhattan, brushing aside a suggestion that it could imperil his reelection.

Hatch broke ranks with most Republicans last month when he came out in support of a mosque near the so-called Ground Zero site in New York City. Asked if it raises the chances that he could fall to a primary challenge from Rep. Jason Chaffetz (R), Hatch said no.

"Most of the people I've met who are very upset also believe in religious freedom," Hatch told The Hill. "You always hear of someone who disagrees with you, and that's just the way this world is. But I've always stood for religious liberty, religious freedom, and I'm going to continue to stand for it. Almost every bill that deals with that has my name on it."