Franks said the mentoring job associated with the St. Louis Agency on Training and Employment, or SLATE, was not a typical 9-to-5 office position and included late night phone calls.

In August, Franks filed for bankruptcy, saying his sole income is derived from being a state representative: $2,993 a month. He did not report any income from his mentoring position, which he left in February.

Franks said his decision to resign was not motivated by the taint of scandal, but by a desire to show people of color that they can address mental health issues.

He said he has been wracked by anxiety and depression brought on by “survivors guilt.” On his desk in the Capitol is a collage of recently deceased family and friends.

“In December I hit bottom. I’ve lost a lot of people,” Franks said. “We don’t talk about it. We are elected officials, but we are humans.”

Franks had signaled he wanted to run for Sen. Jamilah Nasheed’s 5th Senate District seat when she is forced out by term limits after the November 2020 election.