Ryan: GOP Rep. Murphy resigning after reports of affair
By ANDREW TAYLOR, Associated Press
Oct 5, 2017 3:17 PM CDT
FILE - In this March 26, 2015, file photo, Rep. Tim Murphy, R-Pa., speaks on Capitol Hill in Washington. Murphy who was caught up in affair scandal, announces he plans to resign from Congress effective Oct. 21, 2017, according to House Speaker Paul Ryan. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik, File)   (Associated Press)

WASHINGTON (AP) — GOP Rep. Tim Murphy of Pennsylvania, caught up in tawdry revelations of an extramarital affair, is resigning from Congress.

That's the word from House Speaker Paul Ryan. Murphy, an anti-abortion lawmaker, allegedly urged his mistress to get an abortion when he thought she was pregnant.

Ryan says Murphy has sent him a letter announcing his resignation, effective Oct. 21.

Ryan says the decision was Murphy's but he supports "Murphy's decision to move on to the next chapter of his life."

Murphy is serving his eighth term representing a district in southwestern Pennsylvania, including parts of suburban Pittsburgh. The district is a safe Republican seat, with Republican Donald Trump beating Democrat Hillary Clinton by a margin of three-to-two in last November's presidential election.