Boehner To Resign

Republican House Speaker John Boehner will resign as Speaker and leave his seat at the end of October, NBC News has confirmed.

A Boehner aide told NBC News that the Speaker “believes putting members through prolonged leadership turmoil would do irreparable damage to the institution. He is proud of what this majority has accomplished, and his Speakership, but for the good of the Republican Conference and the institution, he will resign the Speakership and his seat in Congress, effective October 30.”

Boehner has been under prolonged pressure from conservatives in his party, who have accused him of failing to fight the Obama administration on issues important to the GOP.

Foes within his party had been pushing to oust him if he presented any legislation that would continue to fund the government and avoid a government shutdown without stripping federal funding for Planned Parenthood.

House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy, Boehner’s second in command, was informed of Boehner’s decision only shortly before he announced it to members of Congress in a closed-door meeting.

House Ways and Means Committee chair Paul Ryan, considered a possible successor to the outgoing House Speaker, told reporters Friday that he is not interested in pursuing the job.

Rep. Peter King, R-N.Y., told NBC News that Boehner informed House members of his decision during the routine meeting, then read aloud the Prayer of St. Francis, which begins, “Lord, make me an instrument of thy peace.”

Boehner was front and center during Thursday’s address to Congress by Pope Francis. Boehner, who is Catholic, sat directly behind the pontiff and was visibly emotional for most of his speech.

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