Republican Rep. Trent Franks of Arizona reportedly offered a staffer $5 million to carry his child, the Associated Press reported Friday.
A former aide told the AP that Franks asked her a number of times to carry his child, offering the female staffer $5 million at one point.
Other female Franks aides claim that the congressman approached them to be surrogates, and were not sure whether Franks was asking about getting the women pregnant through sexual intercourse or in-vitro fertilization methods, Politico reports.
Franks announced he is resigning immediately from his seat Friday after the Politico and AP stories went live.
AP Exclusive: Former aide says GOP Rep. Trent Franks offered her $5 million to carry his child.
— Jon Passantino (@passantino) December 8, 2017
The Arizona congressman originally announced his resignation Thursday, but planned to serve until January 31.
“I have always tried to create a very warm and supportive atmosphere for every last person who has ever worked in my congressional office,” Franks said in a statement Thursday initially announcing his retirement. “It is my deepest conviction that there are many staffers, former and present, who readily volunteer to substantiate this fact.”
Franks says he and his wife have “struggled with infertility,” and the couple has “experienced miscarriages.”
“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 said. “Rather than allow a sensationalized trial by media damage those things I love most, this morning I notified House leadership that I will be leaving Congress as of January 31st, 2018.”
The Arizona congressman was elected in 2002 along with a number of members of the Tea Party Caucus.
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