Farenthold: There have been so many allegations ‘I don’t know what all is going on’

Greg Nash

Rep. Blake Farenthold (R-Texas), who announced Thursday he would retire next year, told reporters he doesn’t “know what all is going on” after two additional staffers came forward the day before to accuse him of sexual misconduct in the workplace.

“There’ve been so many I don’t know what all is going on,” Farenthold said when asked if he denied the latest allegations.

Farenthold’s former communications director told CNN Wednesday that the congressman made crude sexual remarks, while another former staffer said Farenthold regularly called staffers “f—tards.”

Farenthold said he used the term “in jest.”

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Lauren Greene, a former staffer for the congressman, was fired from Farenthold’s office in 2014 and filed a lawsuit later that year. In a complaint, Greene said Farenthold “regularly drank to excess” and had a “tendency to flirt.”

It was revealed earlier this month that Farenthold settled that suit for $84,000 in taxpayer money, which he has vowed to repay. He has denied wrongdoing.

Farenthold announced Thursday morning he would not seek reelection in 2018 amid the allegations and claims that he created a hostile work environment.

Asked if he’s going to resign, he told a reporter to “check my Facebook page.”

“I had never served in public office before. I had no idea how to run a congressional office. And as a result, I allowed a workplace culture to take root in my office that was too permissive and decidedly unprofessional,” Farenthold said in a video posted to Facebook earlier in the day.

Multiple lawmakers in recent weeks have been forced to resign as allegations of sexual misconduct have come to light, including former Rep. John Conyers Jr. (D-Mich.) and Sen. Al Franken (D-Minn.).

Tags Al Franken Blake Farenthold John Conyers Sexual misconduct

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