In the wake of Rep. Trent Franks (R-AZ) stepping down from Congress, some disturbing stories have emerged from his former staffers. Namely, he offered one woman $5 million to serve as his surrogate, and his aides were worried that he wanted to have sex with them to impregnate them.
BREAKING: AP Exclusive: Former aide says GOP Rep. Trent Franks offered her $5 million to carry his child.
— The Associated Press (@AP) December 8, 2017
A former staffer also alleged that Franks tried to persuade a female aide that they were in love by having her read an article that described how a person knows they’re in love with someone, the sources said. https://t.co/uMoFmxMgS0
— Josh Billinson (@jbillinson) December 8, 2017
From POLITICO (emphasis added):
The sources said Franks approached two female staffers about acting as a potential surrogate for him and his wife, who has struggled with fertility issues for years. But the aides were concerned that Franks was asking to have sexual relations with them. It was not clear to the women whether he was asking about impregnating the women through sexual intercourse or in vitro fertilization. Franks opposes abortion rights as well as procedures that discard embryos.
A former staffer also alleged that Franks tried to persuade a female aide that they were in love by having her read an article that described how a person knows they’re in love with someone, the sources said. One woman believed she was the subject of retribution after rebuffing Franks. While she enjoyed access to the congressman before the incident, that access was revoked afterward, she told Republican leaders.
I mean, it goes without saying that this is entirely inappropriate. It's absurd that the sentence "a person should not ask his subordinates if they want to carry his child" should even have to be written.
Good riddance, Franks.