Amid controversy, Murphy announces he will not seek re-election

PITTSBURGH — 6:39 P.M. UPDATE: Congressman Tim Murphy announced Wednesday evening that he will not seek re-election in 2018.

Murphy today released the following statement:

“After discussions with my family and staff, I have come to the decision that I will not seek reelection to Congress at the end of my current term.

"I plan to spend my remaining months in office continuing my work as the national leader on mental health care reform, as well as issues affecting working families in southwestern Pennsylvania.

"We have accomplished much in the past year through the Helping Families in Mental Health Crisis Act and there is much work yet to be done.

"In the coming weeks I will take personal time to seek help as my family and I continue to work through our personal difficulties and seek healing. I ask you to respect our privacy during this time.”

Congressman Tim Murphy was not talking Wednesday after a shocking report by the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette detailed text messages from Murphy to his mistress, urging her to get an abortion.

Only Channel 11 was there as Murphy walked away from our camera on Capitol Hill without saying anything.

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Murphy may have been in Washington but his attorney was in an Allegheny County courtroom, where a judge ordered Murphy to give a deposition about his affair with a married woman.

That deposition will be used in her divorce proceedings.

Murphy’s attorney motioned to get those proceedings between Dr. Jesse Salley and his wife, Shannon Edwards, postponed, a motion the judge denied.

In court today, Edwards’ attorney admitted she and the congressman had an affair. And according to the Post-Gazette, she became upset earlier this year, calling him a hypocrite because of his pro-life political stance but suggesting she have an abortion.

In a text message she wrote: "And you have zero issue posting your pro-life stance all over the place when you had no issue asking me to abort our unborn child just last week when we thought that was one of the options."

The congressman is expected to give his deposition sometime this month before Oct. 31, when the divorce proceedings begin.

Associated Press