washington u.s. representative cathy mcmorris rodgers fourth-ranking republican house representatives friday tell fox news channel fellow republican representative blake farenthold resign ethics investigation find sexual misconduct accusations merit allegations prove true ... would hope would step aside say mcmorris rodgers chair house republican conference farenthold office immediately available comment remark house ethics committee say thursday investigate farenthold 55 allegations sexual harassment discrimination retaliation involve former female staff member say also look whether corpus christi texas congressman make inappropriate statements members staff farenthold say thursday relieve ethics panel go look accusations facts release confident matter settle resolve say politico report last week congressional office compliance pay 84,000 public fund behalf farenthold sexual harassment claim 2014 farenthold former communications director lauren greene sue allege hostile work environment gender discrimination retaliation court document show farenthold greene reach mediate agreement 2015 avoid costly litigation settlement detail confidential accord statement release time farenthold deny engage wrongdoing number lawmakers accuse sexual misconduct week democratic representative john conyers republican representative trent frank resign democratic senator al franken say would step come weeks farenthold resign misconduct accusations true senior house republican