'Pro-Life' Rep. Who Reportedly Urged Abortion Seeks 'Healing'

Tim Murphy will not seek re-election after term ends
By Arden Dier,  Newser Staff
Posted Oct 5, 2017 6:03 AM CDT
'Pro-Life' Rep. Who Reportedly Urged Abortion Will Retire
Rep. Tim Murphy, R-Pa., in 2014.   (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, File)

Rep. Tim Murphy of Pennsylvania will not seek re-election at the end of this term following a report suggesting the anti-abortion Republican asked his mistress to have an abortion. "After discussions with my family and staff, I have come to the decision that I will not seek re-election," Murphy said in a statement Wednesday, per KDKA. He added he would "seek help as my family and I continue to work through our personal difficulties and seek healing" in the coming weeks. The announcement came after several Republicans called for Murphy's resignation and after the congressman held a meeting with House Speaker Paul Ryan and Pennsylvania Republican Reps. Bill Shuster and Charlie Dent, reports Politico.

Murphy admitted weeks ago to having an affair with a forensic psychologist. In a Jan. 25 text message published Tuesday by the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, however, the woman reportedly told Murphy, "you have zero issue posting your pro-life stance all over the place when you had no issue asking me to abort our unborn child just last week." Both Murphy and the woman then believed she was pregnant, though it later turned out not to be the case, reports KDKA. Murphy responded by saying his pro-life messages were written by staff members. "I read them and winced. I told staff don't write any more." The Post-Gazette also described potentially abusive behavior in Murphy's office. It's expected another Republican will replace him. (More abortion stories.)

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