- Rep. Trent Franks, a conservative Republican, says he is resigning amid a House sexual-harassment investigation.
- Franks represents Arizona's 8th District. He first assumed office in 2003.
- Multiple news outlets reported that he had asked two female staff members to become surrogates for his family.
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Freedom Caucus congressman Trent Franks is resigning after asking female subordinates to bear his children
Rep. Trent Franks, a conservative Republican, says he will resign amid a House sexual-harassment investigation.
Republican Rep. Trent Franks on Thursday announced plans to resign in January.
Franks released a statement on Thursday afternoon saying he had learned of a House Ethics Committee investigation regarding his "discussion of surrogacy with two previous female subordinates" that he said made them uncomfortable. Multiple news outlets cited sources as saying Franks had directly asked the women to be surrogates for his family.
"I deeply regret that my discussion of this option and process in the workplace caused distress," Franks said. Before explaining his reason for resigning, Franks described being in an "unusual moment in history" in which "there is collective focus on a very important problem of justice and sexual impropriety."
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He added: "But in the midst of this current cultural and media climate, I am deeply convinced I would be unable to complete a fair House Ethics investigation before distorted and sensationalized versions of this story would put me, my family, my staff, and my noble colleagues in the House of Representatives through hyperbolized public excoriation."
Franks, a member of the conservative Freedom Caucus group on Capitol Hill, represents Arizona's 8th District. He first assumed office in 2003.
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