Farenthold retiring from House amid harassment accusations
WASHINGTON — Texas Republican Rep. Blake Farenthold announced Thursday that he won’t seek re-election next year, adding his name to the list of lawmakers leaving Congress amid sexual harassment allegations that have cost powerful men their jobs in politics, the arts and other industries.
In a five-minute video on his campaign’s Facebook page, Farenthold denied a former aide’s three-year-old accusations, which included that he’d subjected her to sexually suggestive comments and behaviour and then fired her after she complained. But he apologized for an office atmosphere he said included “destructive gossip, offhand comments, off-colour jokes and behaviour that in general was less than professional.”
House Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wis., told reporters he’d spoken twice to the Texan on Wednesday and suggested there were additional accusations that had yet to surface.
“Unacceptable behaviour has been alleged in those stories, and I think he’s made the right decision that he’s going to be leaving Congress and that reflects some of the conversations we’ve had,” Ryan said.