"Last night, my wife was admitted to the hospital in Washington,
D.C., 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," Franks said in an emailed
statement.
Late on Thursday, Franks, who has represented a district in the
Phoenix, Arizona, area since 2003, issued a statement saying
that two women on his staff complained that he had discussed
with them his efforts to find a surrogate mother, but he denied
he had ever "physically intimidated, coerced, or had, or
attempted to have, any sexual contact with any member of my
congressional staff."
The news website Politico on Friday quoted unnamed sources that
it was not clear to the women whether he was asking about
impregnating them through sexual intercourse or in vitro
fertilization.
The Associated Press reported that a former aide to Franks said
the congressman offered her $5 million to carry his child.
Reuters has not confirmed either report.
The House of Representatives Ethics Committee said on Thursday
it had opened an investigation into accusations of sexual
harassment against Franks.
The 60-year-old lawmaker also said that he and his wife "have
long struggled with infertility."
Franks' departure comes just days after Democratic
Representative John Conyers of Michigan announced his immediate
retirement amid sexual harassment allegations that he has
denied.
On Thursday, Democratic Senator Al Franken announced on the
Senate floor that he too would resign his Minnesota seat amid
harassment claims.
(Reporting by Richard Cowan; Editing by Sandra Maler and Clive
McKeef)
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