Updated at 4:15 p.m. with a statement from former communications director Elizabeth Peace.

WASHINGTON — Besieged by allegations of crude and verbally abusive behavior, Corpus Christi Rep. Blake Farenthold announced Thursday that he will not seek re-election.

In an emotional five-minute video, the Republican apologized for unprofessional behavior in his congressional office and for fits of rage with his staff. He said that while the most serious accusations against him are false, voters deserve better than a congressman distracted for months by an effort to clear his name.

"I am announcing my decision not to run for re-election," he said.

The former conservative radio host-turned-lawmaker said Thursday that, when elected, he had "no idea how to run a congressional office." And as a result, he said: "I allowed a workplace culture to take root in my office that was too permissive and decidedly unprofessional. It accommodated destructive gossip, offhand comments, off-color jokes and behavior that in general was less than professional."

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House Speaker Paul Ryan spoke with Farenthold twice on Wednesday and was widely believed to be prodding him toward retirement after 2018.

Ryan said Thursday that "he's making the right decision to retire. There are new stories that are very disconcerting ... and I think he's made the right decision that he's going to be leaving Congress, and that reflects some of the conversations that we've had."

Some Republicans and Democrats have blasted Farenthold over complaints he engaged in lewd conversations with staffers and ran a hostile workplace — and, most damaging, settled a sexual harassment complaint with $84,000 in public funds. Farenthold has maintained his innocence in that matter and said Lauren Greene, the staffer who filed the complaint, was fired for poor performance.

Congressional inquiries

The retirement comes a day after another former aide asserted that the four-term Republican made lewd comments about the aide's then-fiancee and their sex life, and managed a work environment so stressful that he required medical treatment and counseling.

That aide, Michael Rekola, approached the House Ethics Committee about Farenthold’s behavior, according to CNN. Last week, the committee opened a formal investigation into complaints filed in 2014 by Greene over sexual harassment, gender discrimination and a hostile work environment.

Greene, who sued the congressman in a federal court, received the $84,000 settlement. After details of the settlement became public in recent weeks, Farenthold vowed to repay taxpayers, noting he was not allowed to pay with private dollars due to congressional rules.

He's repeatedly pointed to a 2015 decision by the independent Office of Congressional Ethics, which investigated the case but unanimously recommended to the House Ethics Committee to dismiss the matter due to lack of merit.

"I want to be perfectly clear, the charges that were made are false," Farenthold said in his video, adding that an "unprofessional work environment is not a crime but it's embarrassing to me and my family" and reflects poorly on Congress.

"I allowed the personal stress of the job to manifest itself in angry outbursts and too often a failure to treat people with the respect they deserve. That was wrong. Clearly it's not how I was raised, it's not who I am, and for that situation I am profoundly sorry," he said.

Mike Bergsma, chairman of the Nueces County Republican Party, got a heads-up about Farenthold's decision from his campaign manager.

"It's a shame. He's my friend, and I think he's a fine congressman," he told The Dallas Morning News.

Fallout

Two well-known Republicans had challenged Farenthold in the March primary. One boasted of the endorsement Thursday of Farenthold's colleague in the state’s congressional delegation — an intraparty attack by Austin Rep. Roger Williams with few precedents in Texas politics.

Texas Democrats called on Farenthold to resign immediately “for his vile behavior,” said the party’s executive director, Crystal Perkins.

House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi called Farenthold's behavior "shocking" and "unacceptable" and demanded he resign from Congress immediately.

But in an age of hyper-focus on sexual misconduct, others worry he's being unfairly lumped in with far worse actors.

Many female aides, past and present, have circulated a letter defending the congressman from the allegations. In the letter signed by 11 women, they wrote "he has always treated us fairly and with dignity and respect."

Farenthold, 56, was swept into office in the 2010 tea party wave, defeating a 28-year Democratic incumbent by a few hundred votes. He’s spent the last several weeks trying to survive the 2017 wave of housecleaning that has hit politicians, media moguls and celebrities as people come forward with claims of harassment or even assault.

“It’s only with the revelation of this sexual harassment settlement paid for with taxpayer funds that he found himself in hot water,” said Mark Jones, a political scientist at Rice University's Baker Institute. “That opened the door for two very credible primary challengers.”

Texas will see unusual turnover in its congressional delegation next year. Farenthold would be the eighth House member, out of 36, to announce retirement at the end of their current terms, under a range of circumstances.

Rep. Joe Barton, R-Ennis, the longest-serving Texan in Congress, quit after lewd text messages and images he exchanged with a mistress surfaced. Two Republicans face term limits as committee chairmen: Financial Services Chairman Rep. Jeb Hensarling of Dallas and Science chairman Rep. Lamar Smith of San Antonio.

Rep. Sam Johnson, R-Plano, recently turned 87 and was the first Texan to announce plans to exit after 2018. El Paso Democrat Beto O'Rourke is challenging Sen. Ted Cruz. Reps. Gene Green, D-Houston, and Ted Poe, R-Humble, also decided to retire.

Firsthand accounts

Former staffers reached by The News this week gave differing opinions of whether they believe Farenthold crossed professional boundaries. Most acknowledged he was prone to off-color remarks, but differed on whether they thought that was unusual for Congress or should be career-ending.

Austin Carson, who worked as a senior policy adviser for Farenthold in 2014 and 2015, described him as a "nerdy congressman" who was "effective and substantive." He didn't witness what he believed to be sexual harassment or gender discrimination, and was among those who said he was "shocked" by Greene's lawsuit.

Still, he acknowledged Farenthold's sense of humor could be juvenile. "It's like 'Revenge of the Nerds' without any of the sex," Carson said, referring to a raunchy 1980s comedy.

He thinks some of Farenthold's comments have been taken out of context, and pointed to a complaint in Greene's lawsuit alleging that Farenthold disclosed to staffers that a female lobbyist had propositioned him for a "threesome."

He was "being self-deprecating," Carson said. "As in, 'You know how effed up this town is'" if even he's being approached for such an act.

Wendy Herman, Farenthold's first campaign manager, said he never made inappropriate jokes around her. The man she described as quiet and quick-witted was prone to outbursts, however, sometimes over things as small as a misspelling. "I've never seen him clear a desk, but I've gotten yelled at,'' she said.

Still, she remains a fan. She was among the 11 women who signed the public letter of support, and said she tried to encourage him in recent days. "I've sent him texts to let him know I'm praying for him,'' Herman said. "He's been stoic.''

But other former aides have come forward with reports of what they said was abusive behavior and a toxic office culture.

Elizabeth Peace, a former spokeswoman for Farenthold, used a podcast Monday to back up Greene's accusation that the congressman engaged in inappropriate sexual banter with staffers. She did not accuse Farenthold of sexual harassment.

"I'm encouraged to see the #metoo movement reach a group of men once protected by their power and status," she said Thursday, referring to the national movement intended to raise awareness about sexual misconduct. "It's not my place to decide the fate of someone's job, especially someone whose district I don't reside in. But I'm disappointed it appears half of Congress doesn't take this as seriously as the country as a whole finally is."

On Wednesday, CNN reported that Rekola, who served as Farenthold's communications director in 2015, said he once made crude comments about his fiancee just before their wedding. He alleged that within earshot of others, the lawmaker said that Rekola should be sure his partner performs fellatio before the wedding because "it will be the last time."

Farenthold, he said, also joked about whether it was appropriate for Rekola's now-wife to wear a white wedding gown, a reference Rekola interpreted as a comment about premarital sex, according to CNN.

Farenthold has denied those remarks, though Peace told CNN she heard the comment about oral sex. The lawmaker has also denied allegations he routinely verbally abused staffers.

Bergsma, the Nueces County GOP chairman, said he wishes Farenthold had more of a chance to defend himself against the allegations. He called Farenthold an effective congressman who has been instrumental in obtaining funding for critical infrastructure projects back in Texas.

"I am supposing they felt like it was such an uphill climb now that it would be best for the congressman, his family, the district and the party for him to withdraw," he said.

Sexual harassment is real "and you don't want to disbelieve somebody," he said. "But at the same time ... we're not talking Weinstein here," referring to the Hollywood mogul Harvey Weinstein, who has been accused by a multitude of women of sexual assault.

Challengers

Among the five Republicans who jumped into the race for Farenthold’s seat are Michael Cloud, a member of the State Republican Executive Committee, and Bech Bruun, who recently announced his resignation as chairman of the Texas Water Board.

Bruun, who grew up in Corpus Christi and now lives in Austin, welcomed the endorsement of Williams, an unusual move by a sitting congressman against a fellow incumbent.

"At a time when the Coastal Bend faces serious challenges in the ongoing recovery efforts from Hurricane Harvey, Congressional District 27 needs effective leadership now more than ever," Williams said in a statement issued by Bruun’s campaign.

"In terms of Farenthold we're talking about news reports that indicate an environment riff with abuse and harassment in his office. These accounts from former staffers are shocking, unacceptable and must be respected. Congressman Farenthold should resign." - @NancyPelosi pic.twitter.com/yUGZXff0l0 — CSPAN (@cspan) December 14, 2017

Cloud, a former chairman of the Victoria County Republican Party, emphasized that he entered the race in September — long before reports of Farenthold’s settlement with Greene. He's been endorsed by Ron Paul, a former congressman who has run for president as a Republican and as a Libertarian.

"We've been in this race for months," Cloud told The News. "We need people of courage and character to stand up to the culture and corruption in D.C."

Among the lesser-known candidates for Farenthold’s seat are Christopher Mapp, Jerry Hall and Eddie Gassman. Hall ran for Congress in 1996 and 2010 and announced this year’s bid just before the news broke that Farenthold used taxpayer dollars in his settlement.

“It’s created a real black eye for the Republican Party,” Hall said.

Staff writer Miles Moffeit contributed to this report.