John C. Moritz and Heidi M Przybyla

Corpus Christi (Texas) Caller Times and USA TODAY

AUSTIN — Rep. Blake Farenthold, a Texas lawmaker under fire over a sexual harassment lawsuit, announced Thursday he will retire from Congress amid accusations from at least two former staffers about inappropriate or abusive conduct.

In a Facebook live stream, Farenthold acknowledged some of the allegations. When he arrived in Congress, Farenthold said, he had “no idea how to run a congressional office,” which led to a workplace culture that became “too permissive and decidedly unprofessional."

The Republican congressman also took responsibility for “angry outbursts and failure to treat people with the respect they deserve.” Said Farenthold: “For that situation I am profoundly sorry.” Even though “an unprofessional work environment is not a crime,” he said, “it reflects poorly on me.”

He is the fourth member of Congress to resign this month amid a Capitol Hill firestorm over sexual harassment that's felling lawmakers on both sides of the aisle.

More:Texas congressman 'allowed power of his office to go too far,' ex-aide says

Farenthold, 56, who was seeking a fifth term representing the Coastal Bend area of Texas, has been under intense fire since it was disclosed that he settled a sexual harassment lawsuit filed by a former aide with $84,000 in taxpayers’ money. He has said the settlement was a strategic decision to put the matter to rest even though he insists the charges are untrue.

His decision also follows a recent CNN report detailing alleged harassment from a second former staff member, Michael Rekola, who was Farenthold's communications director in 2015. Rekola described behavior ranging from making sexually graphic jokes to bullying that Rekola says led him to seek medical treatment and psychological counseling.

House Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wis., told reporters at the Capitol on Thursday that he'd “had a couple conversations with Blake Farenthold yesterday and I think he’s making the right decision to retire. Unacceptable behavior has been alleged in those stories.”

Mike Bergsma, the chairman of the Nueces County (Texas) Republican County, said "He's been an excellent congressman, and I'm sorry this has happened."

More:Rep. Blake Farenthold faces ethics probe after sexual harassment allegations

House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., said the reports “are shocking, unacceptable and must be respected. Congressman Farenthold should resign.”

Farenthold's 27th District is considered safe Republican territory but Texas Democrats pounced on the decision, saying the congressman should vacate his office immediately.

“Republican Blake Farenthold has no business holding public office," said Crystal Perkins, executive director of the Texas Democratic Party. "The fact is, Farenthold has violated the public trust and shown a pattern of demeaning, degrading, and disrespectful conduct towards women.”

Last week, three members of Congress were forced from office amid varied reports of sexual harassment or misconduct, while a trio of women who've accused President Trump of inappropriate sexual behavior resurfaced to call for a congressional investigation. Calls from Democrats for a probe of Trump's past treatment of women intensified after he sent a tweet targeting Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., that she called a "sexist smear."

Sen. Al Franken, D-Minn., said he would resign after a series of accusations from women who said he groped or harassed them. Rep. John Conyers, D-Mich., the longest-serving current member of Congress, also stepped down, along with Rep. Trent Franks, R-Ariz., who resigned amid reports he discussed with female staffers the possibility they could be surrogates for his and his wife's baby.

The U.S. House Ethics Committee is looking in the allegations even though the Office of Congressional Ethics has said the allegations were unfounded.

More:A list: Members of Congress facing sexual misconduct allegations

Meantime confronting the issue of sexual harassment in Congress and society at large appears to be among few with broad bipartisan support.

In a new USA TODAY/Suffolk University Poll, three in four of those surveyed — including overwhelming majorities of men and women, Republicans and Democrats, said the issue was a major one that needed real solutions. Fewer than one in five said too much was being made of a furor that has rattled Hollywood, politics, the news media and more.

Contributing: Eliza Collins, USA TODAY. Follow John C. Moritz and Heidi M Przybyla on Twitter: @JohnnieMo and @HeidiPrzybyla

More:Congressman pledges to repay taxpayers for sexual harassment case

More:Congressman’s sexual harassment settlement paid with tax dollars

More:Republican senator on congressman: 'He's so unattractive. It's unbelievable'

More:Texas Republican congressman singles out GOP female senators for blocking Obamacare repeal