Under fire, Texas lawmaker steps down

U.S. Rep. Blake Farenthold, a Texas Republican who was facing an ethics investigation after using taxpayer funds to settle a sexual harassment claim from a former staff member, abruptly resigned his seat Friday.

Farenthold had announced in December that he would not seek re-election and had appeared determined to serve out his fourth term in the House. But in a statement Friday he said that he had sent a letter to Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, a Republican, resigning his seat effective 5 p.m. Friday.

“While I planned on serving out the remainder of my term in Congress, I know in my heart it’s time for me to move along and look for new ways to serve,” he said in the statement, which offered no further rationale for his decision to immediately resign.

While Texas law allows the governor to call an emergency election to fill a vacant congressional seat, a Republican official familiar with the circumstances surrounding Farenthold’s resignation said that no election will be held to fill the seat before November.

Farenthold publicly promised in December to repay taxpayers the $84,000 that was paid to his former communications director, Lauren Greene, who alleged in a 2014 lawsuit that he had discussed having sexual fantasies with her and that she was fired after she complained about his behavior.

Despite Farenthold’s pledge, he has not made any payment to date.