Blake Farenthold

Republicans said Texas GOP Rep. Blake Farenthold won’t seek re-election amid sexual harassment allegations.

House Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wis., told reporters Thursday that Farenthold was “making the right decision to retire,” citing the “unacceptable behavior that has been alleged.”

The news comes after the House Ethics Committee announced in early December that it was expanding an investigation into sexual harassment allegations against Republican Rep. Blake Farenthold of Texas.

The committee said it will investigate whether Farenthold sexually harassed a former member of his staff and retaliated against her for complaining. The committee also said the panel would review allegations that Farenthold made inappropriate statements to other members of his official staff.

Lauren Greene, a former communications director in the congressman’s office, alleged in a 2014 federal lawsuit that she was sexually harassed and fired soon after complaining of a hostile work environment. Farenthold said when the case was settled in 2015 that he didn’t engage in any wrongdoing.

Following the announcement, Farenthold said he was “relieved” that the Ethics Committee would look further into the case.

“Once all the facts are released, I’m confident this matter will once and for all be settled and resolved,” Farenthold said. “I’m also pleased the Committee on Ethics recognizes, as per their statement, that I have cooperated fully with the committee’s investigation and acknowledged a decision has been delayed because of difficulty obtaining live testimony from other witnesses.”

“This investigation increases the transparency the public deserves and what I’ve wanted since the beginning.”

Al Franken

At least eight different women have accused Democratic Minnesota Sen. Al Franken of sexual misconduct.

Many of the women allege that Franken forcibly kissed them, groped them and made unwanted sexual advances.

Franken, a comedian turned politician who has been in office since 2009, was first accused by Los Angeles radio anchor Leeann Tweeden who claimed  Franken forcibly kissed her during a 2006 USO tour.

After more women came forward, Franken faced a Senate Ethics Committee investigation, and many Democrats encouraged Franken to step down.

Franken, who has apologized for his actions, announced Thursday that he will resign from the Senate “in the coming weeks.”

Trent Franks

Arizona Rep. Trent Franks stepped down on Friday amid news reports that he allegedly repeatedly pressed a former aide to carry his child. Franks reportedly offered her $5 million to act as a surrogate.

Franks first announced his resignation on Thursday, saying that he would formally step down in January. But after his wife was admitted to the hospital earlier this week, his plans changed and his resignation was effective as of Dec. 8, 2017.

The representative was reportedly encouraged to step down by Speaker Paul Ryan, who learned of an House Ethics Committee investigation into his behavior.

Franks admitted that discussing surrogacy with two of his female staffers “made certain individuals uncomfortable.”

Ruben Kihuen

A former aide, identified only as Samantha, recently accused Nevada Rep. Ruben Kihuen, a first-term lawmaker, of repeatedly making sexual advances toward her during the 2016 congressional campaign.

On two occasions, she said, he touched her thighs without consent. She also claims that the representative propositioned her for dates and sex on multiple occasions despite her repeated rejections.

Buzzfeed first reported the former aide’s allegations.

“I sincerely apologize for anything that I may have said or done that made her feel uncomfortable. I take this matter seriously as it is not indicative of who I am,” Kihuen said in a statement following the report. “But I want to make it clear that I don’t recall any of the circumstances she described.”

On Saturday, a top House Democrat said Kihuen should resign amid the allegations. Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi said she found Samantha’s allegations to be convincing, the Associated Press reported.

Roy Moore

Roy Moore, a former Alabama judge and the 2017 Republican candidate in the United States Senate Special election in Alabama, was accused of having inappropriate sexual relations with teenage girls while he was in his 30s, the Washington Post reported in a bombshell report about a month before the special election.

Since the report, additional women have come forward with sexual misconduct allegations.

Moore has vehemently  denied the accusations, once calling them “the definition of fake news.”

Since the allegations came to light, however, many Republicans have called on him to step aside from the campaign. But others, like President Trump and Steve Bannon,  have continued to stand by Moore despite the accusations.

Moore lost the election to Doug Jones on Dec. 12.  

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Source: Al Franken, Blake Farenthold, John Conyers among politicians accused of sexual misconduct in 2017