Arizona congressman Trent Franks resigns after two staffers complained he asked them to bear his child as surrogate mothers
Republican Trent Franks had twins using a donor egg and a surrogate in 2008
Three years on he asked two ‘female subordinates’ to bear another child for him
House Ethics Committee said it would investigate him for ‘sexual harassment’
Franks said he will resign to prevent ‘sensationalized trial’ in current climate
By CHARLIE MOORE
DAILYMAIL.COM
8 December 2017
Arizona congressman Trent Franks has announced he will resign in January after two staffers complained he asked them to be surrogate mothers for his child.
The Republican decided to step down to prevent a ‘sensationalized trial’ after The House Ethics Committee said it would investigate him to see if his conduct ‘constitutes sexual harassment.’
Franks, a staunch conservative, asked two ‘female subordinates’ to bear his child in 2011, three years after he and his wife had twins using a donor egg and a surrogate.
The 60-year-old said in a statement on Thursday: ‘Due to my familiarity and experience with the process of surrogacy, I clearly became insensitive as to how the discussion of such an intensely personal topic might affect others.
‘I deeply regret that my discussion of this option and process in the workplace caused distress.’
Franks said he felt a fair investigation was impossible in the current climate as sexual harassment allegations continue to emerge in the wake of the Harvey Weinstein scandal.
He added: ‘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.
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