Sex scandal forces US congressman to resign

Sex scandal and preference for abortion involving a US congressman known for his anti-abortion stand has forced his resignation from Congress, after serving eight terms.

Agency report reviled Friday that the Republican congressman Tim Murphy of Pennsylvania is resigning from Congress effective Oct. 21, as announced on Thursday by House Speaker Paul Ryan.

According to the report, Ryan said in a statement Wednesday afternoon that he received a letter of resignation from Murphy.

“It was Dr. Murphy’s decision to move on to the next chapter of his life, and I support it. We thank him for his many years of tireless work on mental health issues here in Congress and his service to the country as a naval reserve officer,” Ryan said.

Murphy’s decision came a day after he announced he would not run for a ninth term, amid tawdry revelations of an extramarital affair in which the anti-abortion lawmaker urged his mistress to get an abortion when he thought she was pregnant