UPDATE: Female aides said Franks suggested intercourse to impregnate them
Arizona Rep. Trent Franks allegedly made unwanted advances toward female staffers in his office and retaliated against one who rebuffed him, according to House GOP sources with knowledge of a complaint against him.
The allegations, which reached Speaker Paul Ryan and top GOP leaders in recent days, led to Franks’ sudden resignation this week. Franks originally announced that he would resign on Jan. 31, 2018. But just hours after POLITICO inquired about the allegations, he sped up his resignation and left office Friday.
The sources said Franks approached two female staffers about acting as a potential surrogate for him and his wife, who has struggled with fertility issues for years. But the aides were concerned that Franks was asking to have sexual relations with them.
Original: The Trent Franks resignation is getting stranger and stranger.
Just weeks ago he was raising funds for his reelection campaign. Then, on Friday, he announced this is his last day in the House.
Weird things are afoot here.
Rep Trent Franks R-AZ says he is resigning effective today, instead of January 31, as announced Thursday night pic.twitter.com/9ZM2qBiDdu
— Jamie Dupree (@jamiedupree) December 8, 2017