DesJarlais Says He Will Not Resign

Rep. Scott DesJarlais (R-TN) told the Knoxville News Sentinel that he “never intentionally misled voters about his past and stressed that he has no plans to resign over recent revelations that depict a private life starkly at odds with his public image as an anti-abortion, family values congressman.”

In his first extensive remarks since the release of a court transcript from his 14-year-old divorce, DesJarlais conceded that he often used “very poor judgment” during his first marriage and said he is not the same man who supported his first wife’s decision to have two abortions.

The physician-turned-lawmaker said he also deeply regrets sexual relationships with multiple women, including two patients and three co-workers.