Rep. Blake Farenthold, Accused Of Harassment, Won't Run Again

CORPUS CHRISTI, TX — Republican U.S. Rep. Blake Farenthold, whose congressional district includes his hometown of Corpus Christi, will not seek re-election next year amid allegations that he sexually harassed a former aide, who was fired after she complained, according to two Republicans who spoke on condition of anonymity.

The accusations came to light in 2014 when a former aide filed a lawsuit against Farenthold accusing him of making sexually suggestive remarks and actions. Farenthold said did nothing wrong and the case was settled in 2015.

After congressional sources said Farenthold paid an $84,000 settlement using taxpayer dollars, the House Ethics Committee last week said it would investigate. Farenthold said he'd pay back the Treasury Department but such payments have faced public criticism as people say lawmakers should use their own money for such settlements.

Farenthold's district includes the Texas Gulf Coast from Corpus Christi and vicinity to Matagorda County and inland to Bastrop. It includes Victoria, Wharton, Bay City, Luling, Edna, Yoakum, Gonzales, Refugio, Hallettsville and Shiner.

Farenthold spoke twice on Wednesday with Republican House Speaker Paul Ryan of Wisconsin, a House official said. A second official said the congressmen spoke once with GOP Rep. Steve Stivers of Ohio, who heads the GOP's House campaign committee. The talks suggested Farenthold might have faced pressure from leaders to step aside. Both officials spoke on condition of anonymity to describe private conversations.

The news comes after three lawmakers facing accusations of sexual harassment announced their resignations last week. Democratic Rep. John Conyers of Michigan and Republican Rep. Trent Franks of Arizona have already left Congress. Democratic Sen. Al Franken of Minnesota said he will step aside soon.

Mike Bergsma, Republican county chairman in Farenthold's home county of Nueces, Texas, said Farenthold's campaign manager Joseph Walter told him Farenthold would not seek re-election. Walter told Bergsma the staff was working on a media statement that would be issued shortly.

"I think it's a shame. He's my friend; I think he's been a good congressman. I wish he had been able to tell his side of the story and that this one issue wasn't making so much difference," Bergsma said.

"I don't think he had done anything that devastating, and the thing that's really hurting him is that it was public money," Bergsma said, referring to the use of Treasury money to pay the settlement. "And the way the law is structured, my understanding is, he didn't have much choice."

A second Republican who confirmed Farenthold's retirement spoke on condition of anonymity to describe a decision the lawmaker had not yet made public.

Farenthold was first elected in 2010, narrowly defeating longtime Democrat Solomon Ortiz by just under 800 votes in an election where more than 100,000 people voted. Ortiz was first elected in 1982.

By ALAN FRAM and WILL WEISSERT, Associated Press

Associated Press writer Andrew Taylor in Washington contributed.

Photo credit: Andrew Harnik/Associated Press