Arizona GOP lawmaker resigns over surrogacy allegation

Official portrait of U.S. Congressman Trent Franks (R-AZ) (Photo By U.S. Congress – https://franks.house.gov/sites/franks.house.gov/files/wysiwyg_uploaded/2015-11-19_FAS_0092_0.jpg, Public Domain)

WASHINGTON— Republican Rep. Trent Franks of Arizona is resigning next month after revealing that he discussed surrogacy with two female staffers.

The eight-term lawmaker, a staunch conservative and fierce opponent of abortion, says he never physically intimidated, coerced or attempted to have any sexual contact with any member of his congressional staff.

Instead, he says, the dispute resulted from a discussion of surrogacy. Franks says he had become familiar with the surrogacy process in recent years and “became insensitive as to how the discussion of such an intensely personal topic might affect others.”

Speaker Paul Ryan, however, called the allegations “serious and requiring action” and says he told Franks he should resign.