Breaking News: John Boehner Will Step Down Next Month
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.
An aide to Boehner said that the Ohio Republican had planned to serve only through the end of last year, but that the stunning primary loss of House Majority Leader Eric Cantor changed that calculation.
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.
"Speaker Boehner believes that the first job of any Speaker is to protect this institution and, as we saw yesterday with the Holy Father, it is the one thing that unites and inspires us all," said the Boehner aide.
WASHINGTON—House Speaker John Boehner (R., Ohio) will resign Oct. 30, according to aides to the lawmaker.
Mr. Boehner announced his plans to step down Friday morning at a closed-door meeting of House Republicans.
Related
Democrats Face Tricky Decision on Boehner (Sept. 18)
Boehner Becomes Campaign-Trail Target (Sept. 18)
Conservative Push to Oust Boehner Called ‘a Distraction’ (Sept. 17)
Boehner Are Tested Anew by GOP Lawmakers (Sept. 13)
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He had been under pressure for years from conservatives, who this summer had introduced a measure aimed at ousting him from his role.
Additional headlines:
*Boehner Will Also Leave Congress
*Aides: Boehner Had Planned To Serve Only Through Last Year
*Aides: Boehner Stayed This Year After Eric Cantor’s Re-Election Defeat Changed Calculation
*Aides: Boehner Believes Prolonged Leadership Turmoil Would Do Irreparable Damage to Institution
*Aides: Boehner Resigning for Good of GOP
More to come