Former MA Rep. Barney Frank Dies At 86

Former Massachusetts Rep. Barney Frank has died. He was 86.

"Barney Frank, the liberal Democrat who spearheaded one of the most significant pieces of financial reform legislation since the Great Depression, died Tuesday night after a battle with congestive heart failure," the New York Post reported.

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"Born in 1940 in Bayonne, NJ, Frank championed a wide variety of causes during his more than 30-year career representing Massachusetts in the House of Representatives — including abortion rights, the environment, LGBTQ issues and economic reforms," the Post story said.

"Frank represented southern Massachusetts in the House for 32 years and established himself as a leading voice in debates over banking, affordable housing and LGBTQ rights," according to NBC. "He chaired the Financial Services Committee amid the 2008 meltdown and co-authored the milestone Dodd-Frank Act, a sweeping law that sought to put Wall Street firms under tougher scrutiny."

"In 1987, Frank became the first congressman to voluntarily come out as gay, following a sex scandal involving Stephen Gobie, a prostitute Frank had hired as a personal aide," a WCVB story said. "Frank admitted paying Gobie once for sex but denied knowing Gobie was using his Capitol Hill apartment for prostitution."

Axios called Frank a "liberal icon."

"A champion of progressive policies, Frank advocated for an end to the 'don't ask, don't tell' policy, allowing gay and lesbian military members to serve openly," per Axios.