• The Gaggle: Trent Franks, ESA's, school funding increases

    The Gaggle: Trent Franks, ESA’s, school funding increases

  • The Gaggle: DCS disbands review panels, tax plan

    The Gaggle: DCS disbands review panels, tax plan

  • The Gaggle: Rep. Grijalva's settlement, Mesa's mayor faces backlash

    The Gaggle: Rep. Grijalva’s settlement, Mesa’s mayor faces backlash

  • The Gaggle: AZ's memorable delegation, voter registration numbers

    The Gaggle: AZ’s memorable delegation, voter registration numbers

  • The Gaggle: Shooter's harassment scandal, foster-care boards

    The Gaggle: Shooter’s harassment scandal, foster-care boards

  • The Gaggle: Sex harassment in AZ's Legislature

    The Gaggle: Sex harassment in AZ’s Legislature

  • The Gaggle: Senate race, Bisbee bag ban, KidsCare

    The Gaggle: Senate race, Bisbee bag ban, KidsCare

  • The Gaggle: Flake out; Legislature harassment

    The Gaggle: Flake out; Legislature harassment

  • The Gaggle: Ducey shows us the money, Bannon's visit, Gosar's family feud

    The Gaggle: Ducey shows us the money, Bannon’s visit, Gosar’s family feud

  • The Gaggle: Arizona elections, school letter grades, Paul Gosar on Charlottesville

    The Gaggle: Arizona elections, school letter grades, Paul Gosar on Charlottesville

  • The Gaggle: DCS lawsuit, Senate race

    The Gaggle: DCS lawsuit, Senate race

  • The Gaggle: Russia hack, another ACA repeal

    The Gaggle: Russia hack, another ACA repeal

  • The Gaggle: Trump rally costs, gay couple's rights

    The Gaggle: Trump rally costs, gay couple’s rights

  • The Gaggle: Mark Brnovich sues Arizona Regents, Constitutional Planning Convention

    The Gaggle: Mark Brnovich sues Arizona Regents, Constitutional Planning Convention

  • The Gaggle: State school vouchers, DACA and Hurricane Harvey relief

    The Gaggle: State school vouchers, DACA and Hurricane Harvey relief

  • The Gaggle: Arpaio pardon, future of DACA and Flake's re-election campaign

    The Gaggle: Arpaio pardon, future of DACA and Flake’s re-election campaign

  • The Gaggle: Trump's visit, school voucher referendum update

    The Gaggle: Trump’s visit, school voucher referendum update

  • The Gaggle:  Trump's Phoenix rally, Arpaio pardon and Sinema's run

    The Gaggle: Trump’s Phoenix rally, Arpaio pardon and Sinema’s run

  • The Gaggle: Flake's new book, health care and bipartiship

    The Gaggle: Flake’s new book, health care and bipartiship

  • The Gaggle: McCain's return to the Senate and more

    The Gaggle: McCain’s return to the Senate and more

  • The Gaggle: School voucher petition, health care and McSally

    The Gaggle: School voucher petition, health care and McSally

  • The Gaggle: Health bill, school-voucher program

    The Gaggle: Health bill, school-voucher program

  • The Gaggle: Foster families, Trump's agenda and voter information

    The Gaggle: Foster families, Trump’s agenda and voter information

  • The Gaggle: Arizona's Teacher Shortage

    The Gaggle: Arizona’s Teacher Shortage

  • The Gaggle: A Secret Recording, Mexico Trade and Kids' Health

    The Gaggle: A Secret Recording, Mexico Trade and Kids’ Health

  • The Gaggle: The governor's race and infrastructure funding

    The Gaggle: The governor’s race and infrastructure funding

  • The Gaggle: Corporation Commission scandal and renewing an AUMF

    The Gaggle: Corporation Commission scandal and renewing an AUMF

  • The Gaggle: McCain Trump feud, Ducey's veto pen and Phoenix city hall

    The Gaggle: McCain Trump feud, Ducey’s veto pen and Phoenix city hall

  • The Gaggle: Unfinished business and hallway laments

    The Gaggle: Unfinished business and hallway laments

  • The Gaggle: Legislative session recap, May 2017

    The Gaggle: Legislative session recap, May 2017

  • The Gaggle:  Teachers protesting, a budget afoot and what's up with Stanton?

    The Gaggle: Teachers protesting, a budget afoot and what’s up with Stanton?

  • The Gaggle: Voucher vote, Arizona university funding

    The Gaggle: Voucher vote, Arizona university funding

  • The Gaggle: DCS warrants and Flake gets scorched

    The Gaggle: DCS warrants and Flake gets scorched

  • The Gaggle: Health care in Congress and school voucher expansion

    The Gaggle: Health care in Congress and school voucher expansion

  • The Gaggle: Is the filibuster busted and will Michele Reagan show us the money?

    The Gaggle: Is the filibuster busted and will Michele Reagan show us the money?

  • The Gaggle: Teacher raises, ACA repeal and ballot initiatives

    The Gaggle: Teacher raises, ACA repeal and ballot initiatives

  • The Gaggle: Federal budget and few women in the Legislature

    The Gaggle: Federal budget and few women in the Legislature

  • The Gaggle: Obamacare replacement, George W. in town and TANF benefits

    The Gaggle: Obamacare replacement, George W. in town and TANF benefits

  • The Gaggle: Tax that did not get cut, tweets from Gosar and a non-job

    The Gaggle: Tax that did not get cut, tweets from Gosar and a non-job

  • The Gaggle: SB 1142 is dead and town halls get rowdy

    The Gaggle: SB 1142 is dead and town halls get rowdy

  • The Gaggle: Bigfooted, McCain and HB 2404

    The Gaggle: Bigfooted, McCain and HB 2404

  • The Gaggle: How much debt is too much?

    The Gaggle: How much debt is too much?

A third woman has come forward alleging former Congressman Trent Franks acted inappropriately with her, adding to the cloud that abruptly ended his eight terms in Washington.

Melissa Richmond, now vice president of Running Start, an organization that encourages women to run for political office, wrote in an op-ed piece on Friday for the Washington Post that Franks rescinded an internship offer eight years ago after she refused to meet him at his home for a “final one-on-one interview.”

“Senior members of his staff had interviewed me weeks before and offered me the position,” she wrote. “After speaking with my family, I called the congressman back and told him I didn’t feel comfortable going to his house. In that case, he told me, the internship offer was rescinded.”

Franks, who could not be reached Friday night, earlier denied the allegation, as well as the sexual-harassment and retaliation claims of two former staffers that led him to resign from the House of Representatives last week.

“I can categorically state that I have never invited any person applying for any job in my office to be interviewed in my home,” he told the Post in a footnote to Richmond’s account.

READ MORE: Franks says he will resign immediately as details of allegations emerge

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One of Franks’ earlier accusers said he pressured her to be a surrogate mother for him and even offered her $5 million to carry his child. The other woman said Franks repeatedly tried to convince her they were in love and took away some of her duties when she rebuffed his advances.

House Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wis., said he found the women’s claims credible and that Franks had not denied them. 

“The speaker told Rep. Franks that he intended to refer the allegations directly to the House Ethics Committee and told him that he should resign from Congress,” Ryan’s office said in a statement. “The speaker takes seriously his obligation to ensure a safe workplace in the House.”

Franks said last week that he and his wife have struggled with infertility, and that his “discussion of surrogacy” with the two women while in the workplace had “caused distress.”

“It is so important that we get this right for everyone, especially for victims,” Franks said at the time. “But in the midst of this current cultural and media climate, I am deeply convinced I would be unable to complete a fair House Ethics investigation before distorted and sensationalized versions of this story would put me, my family, my staff, and my noble colleagues in the House of Representatives through hyperbolized public excoriation.”

Richmond expressed regret over her dealings with Franks, including dismay at her own response to it. 

“Looking back, I’m struck by my own lack of action,” she said. “An opportunity was taken from me because I declined to put myself in a situation that felt wrong and dangerous. But I also didn’t demand that the opportunity be reinstated, nor did I report the behavior that made me uncomfortable.”

READ MORE:

Dates set for special election to replace Rep. Trent Franks

Crowded race to replace Franks reshapes state’s political landscape

5 key takeaways: Rep. Trent Franks’ surprise resignation

Franks offered $5 million to carry his child, former aide says

Full text of Arizona Rep. Trent Franks’ resignation letter

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