Politics: Freedom Caucus congressman Trent Franks is resigning amid rumors of sexually inappropriate behavior

Rep. Trent Franks, a conservative republican, will resign amid news of sexually inapropriate behavior.

• Rep. Trent Franks, a conservative Republican, is resigning amid news of sexually inappropriate behavior, according to a recent report.
• Franks is a congressman from Arizona's 8th district. He first assumed office in 2003.
• He's reportedly accused of talking to some female staffers about becoming surrogates for his child.

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Republican Rep. Trent Franks is expected to resign, according to two GOP strategists cited by the Associated Press on Thursday.

Franks released a statement on Thursday afternoon saying he learned he became the subject of a House Ethics Committee investigation regarding his "discussion of surrogacy with two previous female subordinates" that he said made them uncomfortable.

"I deeply regret that my discussion of this option and process in the workplace caused distress," Franks' statement read in part. Franks suggested his resignation was partly due to the current "unusual moment in history" in which "there is collective focus on a very important problem of justice and sexual impropriety."

Franks 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, has reportedly engaged in inappropriate behavior over the years. Some people in Washington reportedly knew as far back as 2012, when Franks was mulling a run for the Senate.

The precise nature of any previous "inappropriate behavior" remains unclear, but one Arizona Republican told Roll Call that rumors have been swirling about Franks for years.

"If this turns out to be true there won't be that many people who are surprised," the Republican said.

Franks is a congressman from Arizona's 8th district. He first assumed office in 2003.

Rep. Trent Franks, a conservative republican, will resign amid news of sexually inapropriate behavior. Read Full Story