U.S. – Rep. Trent Franks (R-Ariz.) resigned from Congress Friday, despite his earlier announcement that he would step aside next year.
The Associated Press reported Friday that Franks offered a former aide $5 million to carry his child.
In a statement Thursday, Franks said he would leave Congress Jan. 31, and acknowledged the House Ethics Committee is investigating his “discussion of surrogacy with two previous female subordinates, making each feel uncomfortable.”
On Friday, Franks said he would leave immediately, noting that his wife was admitted to a hospital in Washington, D.C., the day before “due to an ongoing ailment.”
“After discussing options with my family, we came to the conclusion that the best thing for our family now would be for me to tender my previous resignation effective today, December 8th, 2017,” he said.
The House Ethics Committee said Thursday it will investigate whether Franks “engaged in conduct that constitutes sexual harassment and/or retaliation for opposing sexual harassment.”
Franks, an eight-term congressman, is a social conservative known for championing anti-abortion legislation.
Source: HuffPost
